The Future is Vertical (and Horizontal): Dual-Format Streaming Arrives
Mobile viewing is massive, and platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts have conditioned millions of users to expect full-screen vertical content. They’ve also largely led the way in algorithmic discoverability, something livestreamers on platforms like Twitch have long struggled to truly master.
Now, Twitch (and possibly YouTube) seem ready to give us a real shot at tapping into those mobile-first audiences with dual-format streaming.
Twitch’s Dual-Format Alpha: What We Know So Far
Twitch has officially rolled out a Technical Alpha for dual-format streaming, letting select streamers broadcast in both horizontal (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats simultaneously. The goal is clear: give mobile viewers a full-screen, optimized experience.
How it works (for Alpha users):
- OBS Integration: You need OBS Studio v31.1.2 or newer, along with a specific Aitum Vertical plugin.
- Enhanced Broadcasting: This familiar Twitch feature is key; you enable it in OBS settings and select Aitum Vertical as your “Additional Canvas.”
- Two Layouts, One Stream: You’ll set up separate scenes for your horizontal and vertical views in OBS. This means carefully framing your camera, gameplay HUDs, and overlays to look good in both horizontal and vertical.
- Beefy Requirements: This isn’t for old PCs. Twitch’s Alpha requirements include NVIDIA RTX 30 Series / AMD RX 6000 (or better) GPUs, Windows 10/11, and a hefty 20-30 Mbps upstream bandwidth (because you’re sending multiple video feeds at the same time).
Alpha Limitations: Remember, this is early days. Vertical VODs aren’t available yet, and some mobile viewer features (like custom chat, Hype Trains, and Cheering overlays) are missing from the vertical view. Viewers will also get a pop-up warning them it’s an Alpha. So, expect some bumps.
YouTube’s Rumored Approach: A Combined Dashboard?
While Twitch is officially talking about its Alpha, a recent screenshot doing the rounds suggests YouTube might be working on something similar.
The image shows a “Combined Stream Dashboard” in YouTube Studio for both horizontal and vertical livestreams.
- Merged Chat: It looks like chat and possibly viewership would be combined, giving creators one feed to manage. This would be a big deal for keeping track of your community across formats.
- Seamless Transitions: The implication is that a viewer scrolling YouTube’s Shorts feed could discover your vertical live stream, then with one click, transition to your full horizontal stream.
Given YouTube’s massive investment in Shorts, it makes sense they’d want to bring that vertical audience into live content too.
Why This Matters for Your Stream
This dual-format push from major platforms signals a clear direction for content creation:
- Massive Discoverability Boost: This is huge for reaching mobile-first audiences. Platforms are desperate to capture vertical viewership, and if you can deliver, you’ll tap into entirely new discovery feeds. For many, this could be the key to breaking through.
- Workflow Efficiency (Eventually): While the Alpha setup sounds a bit complex right now, the long-term goal is to streamline the process. No more separate streams or awkward cropping for highlights after the fact.
- Technical Demands are Real: Streaming two feeds at once is resource-intensive. You’ll need a modern PC and robust internet. This might be a barrier for some, but it also signals a clear hardware upgrade path for serious streamers.
This move from Twitch and the rumored one from YouTube prove that platforms are investing heavily in hybrid content. It means embracing mobile is no longer optional; it’s becoming central to your live strategy.
Pete’s Content Corner
Delve into my weekly selection of content creation highlights – handpicked videos, podcasts, and tweets that promise to captivate, educate, and entertain.
- Ludwig’s 2025 Streamer Games, in partnership with Red Bull, generated over 3.7 million hours of watch time across 215 channels. The event doubled last year’s numbers, proving that large-scale creator sports events are a massive draw.
- Twitch’s annual SUBtember event returns August 29 – October 1. Expect discounts (25% off 1/3-month, 30% off 6-month for new/upgrading subs) and Bonus Gift Subs (late Sept), but notably, no Bonus Bits this year. Treasure Trains will also unlock faster at Level 2.
- Elgato rolled out Stream Deck 7.0, bringing some neat updates. Highlights include a “Virtual Stream Deck” for unlimited keys, “Key Logic” to assign up to three actions per button, and improved system shortcuts.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read Stream Report.
Pete ✌️
