For the last couple of months, Xbox One owners have been able to test out Microsoft's Twitch competitor, Beam, which was introduced to the console via a recent system update. Now, the company has detailed what it's calling the next evolution of the service, alongside its new name, Mixer.

Mixer is a complete re-branding of Beam, but the fundamentals of the service remain the same. Microsoft is betting big on the fact that it can offer real-time streaming without latency, which the company hopes will tempt users away from the well-established Twitch platform.

However, the changeover does introduce some features users have been requesting for quite a while. First and foremost is the addition of co-streaming support, which should add an extra dimension the social experience, and allow content creators to collaborate with one another and grow their audiences.

Microsoft is also launching a beta for the Mixer Create mobile streaming app. It's no secret that the company likes to maintain the shared ecosystem of its expansive product line, and the app should help Mixer establish itself beyond the Xbox brand, tying Microsoft's gaming interests even closer to its other areas of operation.

Also debuting is Channel One, a new moderated channel that will presumably stream content curated by Microsoft. We've seen Twitch enjoy great success with its livestream events, so it wouldn't be surprising to see similar broadcasts appear on Mixer in due course.

Finally, there's a new Mixer page on the Xbox One dashboard to ensure that users have easy access to the service.

Livestreaming has become a huge part of gaming culture in recent years, so it's easy to see why Microsoft is eager to offer its own service in this space. There's no guarantee that Mixer will be a success, but if it can offer Xbox gamers a compelling alternative to Twitch, it's sure to carve out an audience of its own.

The Mixer app is available now on Xbox One.