Amazon has moved further into gaming by snapping up live-streaming gaming network Twitch for $970m (£585m), beating Google to the acquisition.

Twitch allows gamers to broadcast live streams of themselves playing video games and claims that more than 55 million gamers visit its site every month. 

Its social networking features allow viewers to communicate with each other during broadcasts.

Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said: “Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month.”

Amazon already has an in-house gaming studio that makes games, and its Fire TV set-top box was designed to attract gamers.

Online giant Google was earlier in talks to buy Twitch, with reports emerging in May that it had agreed to buy the company for $1bn (£600m), but a deal was never confirmed.

“Today, I’m pleased to announce we’ve been acquired by Amazon,” said Twitch chief executive Emmett Shear on the company’s blog.

‘We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. We’re keeping everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.”