Twitch acquires IGDB to better index the games broadcasters are playing

Twitch now owns and operates the Internet Games Database. Amazon’s livestreaming company acquired the IGDB to improve how people can search for games on its site. The IGDB and its public API will both continue to work independently of Twitch. But the influx of new resources will enable the Amazon-owned company to improve the database.

This investment makes a lot of sense for Twitch. The service already positions itself as one of the best place to discover new games. But that strategy can face challenges if new, old, or obscure games are not easily searchable on Twitch. If Twitch can spend the money to ensure that IGDB is regularly updated and thoroughly maintained, it is more likely that it will have accurate data for the millions of people who view livestreams each month.