XSplit Gamecaster 4: It Grew Up in Profound Ways!
I’m a big fan of using XSplit products. Even though I still use OBS for certain things, I find some tools to be easier with XSplit. But, I didn’t know just how much XSplit Gamecaster 4 differed from its predecessor.
That’s because I mostly use XSplit Broadcaster for live streams.
It wasn’t until I saw my daughter using the newest version of Gamecaster that it piqued my interest.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a full-on review. I want to use the software so I can get an adequate feel of it before giving my opinion. This is merely a first look at what it can do and what it looks like.
XSplit Gamecaster 4 Goes Beyond What it Used to Offer
I was pretty impressed by the control panel for XSplit Gamecaster 4. Though, it did remind me of another system I’ll mention later.
But when I saw all of the different things my daughter could do with her stream, I was blown away.
This was definitely not the Gamecaster software I remember. I might have to rewrite some tutorials and review articles.
Using Gamecaster 3
XSplit Gamecaster 3 offered an easy-to-use overlay streaming platform that really didn’t need much input from users. The idea was to create a quick and easy method to stream gameplay to Twitch or YouTube.
I’ve used it a few times myself. I just like having more control by using Broadcaster.
You had access to a few settings, overlay controls, and even background images and splash screens.
For all intents and purposes, it was a very sleek and easy-to-use platform.
The gist of Gamecaster 3 was just a simple way to stream your games without extensive settings or modifications. It could still do a few fun things, such as link with Streamlabs and show alerts. But nothing to the extent of OBS or Broadcaster.
But, in an attempt to remain relevant, perhaps driven by what you get with Streamlabs Prime, XSplit Gamecaster has gone through a bit of a facelift.
Using XSplit Gamecaster 4
As I said, this is merely a first look. There’s a lot to unpack with the newest version of Gamecaster. But, let’s take a look at some of the more obvious elements.
First of all, XSplit Gamecaster 4 looks nothing like its predecessor. Aside from the name, you wouldn’t even realize versions 3 and 4 were related.
The Studio
After jumping through a few hoops about what kind of layout I wanted after install, I was brought to a familiar-looking screen. It seems Gamecaster upped its game by creating a layout similar to OBS.
Of course, there are a few differences here and there. For one thing, the Stream Events along the right side was automatically pulled from my Twitch account.
Overall, the Studio does have an easy-to-use interface. All of the pertinent things are there, and I like the inclusion of the “Stream” and “Record” buttons on the bottom.
What’s in the Vault?
The Vault is a section of Gamecaster that appears to be full of alerts, emotes, overlays, panels, and stingers. While some of these elements are free, most cost Gamecaster Gold.
I’ll talk about that in a moment.
The list of free overlays is quite large, and some of them are very well designed. I bet it wouldn’t take much to find something to fit nearly every game I like to stream.
Other Tools and Services
In the Tools & Services section, XSplit shows some of the other things you can do with Gamecaster, such as the VCam app or even using Voicemod. And I’ve actually done a review video of Voicemod in the past.
It’s an addictive and fun program.
At any rate, this section isn’t overly large and only has a few elements you might want to consider. Personally, the only thing I’d actually use in this section is Voicemod.
Still, at least you can see what’s available and what might be worth your time and money.
Rewards and Gamecaster Gold?
Apparently, Gamecaster has its own currency: Gamecaster Gold. From what I gather, you can use these gold coins to buy stuff from the Vault to enhance your stream.
You can buy this “Gold” outright, which costs about a penny each unless you buy the 750 gold pack for $6.00. Or, you can earn gold by referring people to use the system.
You can also earn gold throughout “Seasons” where XSplit rewards you for completing certain quests or events.
For instance, you can earn 20 XP by simply streaming for 30 minutes while using Gamecaster. The more experience you get, the higher your level. The higher your level, the more gold you receive.
It’s a fun way to let people earn some of the premium rewards available in the Vault should someone not have a lot of money on hand.
Custom Widgets
And last, but definitely not least, are the custom widgets you can add to your video stream. By clicking the “Edit Button” screen from the Studio, XSplit Gamecaster 4 will load a Scene Editor.
From here, you can manage a variety of elements such as your camera and game source. You can also choose to add a widget to the screen. And there are quite a few to choose from.
This includes the Streamlabs widget area should you want to include the URL for your custom alerts.
I like how you can also tell XSplit which services to include when setting up your custom overlays and widgets. For instance, you can select just those specifically for YouTube, such as showing Super Chats.
Will I Continue to Use Gamecaster 4?
I’m always interested in trying new streaming software. In fact, I was preparing an article for later about some of the best free platforms you can use.
And from what I’ve seen so far, XSplit Gamecaster 4 would rank among my favorites. Although it doesn’t have the precise control of something like OBS, it’s still an intuitively easy system to use.
It may not be the simple layout it used to be, but I think the developers did Gamecaster justice with this release.
Try XSplit Gamecaster 4 for yourself!I’m just kind of upset at myself for not noticing it sooner. Then again, I use Broadcaster and OBS for just about everything.
I’ll definitely keep playing around with this one to see if it’s something I would use for the long term, though. Especially since we’re planning on doing so much more with the YouTube channel.
There’s A Lot to XSplit Gamecaster 4
To be honest, I’m kind of excited to test drive Gamecaster 4. It’s nothing like the old app I was playing with back in 2015. A lot has changed, obviously.
I’m kind of looking forward to giving the new overlays a try.
If you’re looking for a way to stream your games to Twitch, YouTube, or even Facebook, Gamecaster might be something worth considering.
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