Twitch just wrapped a high-energy opening at TwitchCon Rotterdam, marking its 10th anniversary with major announcements that promise game-changing updates for streamers, viewers, and the global gaming community.
Let’s have a look at some of the major updates announced at the platform’s keynote:
A Better Mobile Experience With Vertical Streaming
With more users watching on the go, Twitch is putting major focus on making its mobile app better than ever. To improve the viewing experience on smaller devices, Twitch has announced support for dual-format streaming and vertical viewing.
“This allows us to better optimize the viewing experience for a device and how a viewer is using that device,” Twitch announced in a blog post following the keynote address at TwitchCon Rotterdam. “Viewers watching on desktop will still see landscape.
Viewers on mobile will see your vertical layout if they hold the phone vertically, or landscape if they rotate their phone horizontally.”
Dual-format streaming allows streamers to broadcast both horizontal and vertical versions of their stream at the same time. Partnering initially with Aitum Vertical, this feature aims to bring dual-format support to OBS to deliver an optimized experience no matter the device orientation.
On the other hand, the new vertical theater will allow mobile viewers to engage more deeply by participating in events like Hype Trains and supporting subbing, gifting, and cheering while watching the stream in full screen. Viewers will also have the option to customize chat, giving them more control over how visible chat is during streams. Twitch plans to roll out these features to select streamers this summer.
2K Streaming Rolls Out In Beta
Following a successful closed beta, 2K streams, also known as 1440p streams, are expanding to Twitch Partners and Affiliates. With higher resolution, improved bitrate for 2k streams, and the new HEVC codec, streams will look crisper than ever while still running smoothly. Thanks to Twitch’s Enhanced Broadcasting technology, which automatically adapts stream quality based on viewers’ bandwidth.
“Upgrading to 2k (1440p) streaming offers a noticeable step up from 1080p streaming, with richer detail, improved clarity, and better performance – whether you’re gaming, making art, or just chatting,” says a Twitch support page.
Twitch is now extending 2K streaming beta access to more Partners and Affiliates. The rollout will be gradual, so sign up for the waitlist and watch your inbox!
Rewind
Missed the start of a stream or had to take a quick break? Twitch is introducing the most requested feature, rewind, which allows viewers to pause, rewind, and resume live streams. The goal is to improve the overall live viewing experience, making it more flexible and user-friendly. Testing for this feature will begin this summer with a small group of users.
Boosting Monetization And Career Tools For Streamers
In a bid to support more creators turning their passion into a profession, Twitch is introducing several updates with access to certain monetization and community tools. For instance, the new interactive Combos feature lets viewers trigger animated effects using Bits, while streamers can soon run their own discounted sub events, outside of global events like SUBtember, and access monetization tools earlier. Affiliate requirements are being lowered, making it easier to earn on the platform.
Clips are getting smarter with auto-suggestions and new engagement features, and Watch Streaks will now allow viewers to watch a VOD or Clip to maintain their streak.
Twitch is also adding right-to-left Arabic language support and expanding IRL events globally. Lastly, Twitch has rolled out mobile Mod View for Android and introduced the Twitch Moderators Club, a new private Discord hub for Mods to connect, learn, and share best practices.
