Big News from TwitchCon: Rewind, 2K & Easier Affiliate!
TwitchCon Rotterdam just wrapped, marking ten years of the event, and Twitch came armed with a veritable avalanche of announcements. From long-awaited features finally making an appearance (hello, Rewind!) to new monetization tools and a continued push on mobile, there’s a lot for creators to unpack. As always, some of it sounds promising, some of it raises familiar questions, but it’s clear Twitch is trying to make moves.
Dual Format Streaming & Vertical Video
Twitch is set to enhance the mobile viewing experience with the introduction of dual-format streaming and vertical video. Key aspects of this update include:
- The ability for streamers to send both horizontal and vertical layouts simultaneously via enhanced broadcasting.
- An initial partnership with Aitum Vertical for OBS to support this.
- An optimized mobile viewing experience: a vertical layout when the phone is held vertically, switching to landscape when rotated.
This move towards dual-format streaming could genuinely make the mobile apps much more usable. A vertical scroll of live streams, akin to TikTok or Shorts, offers a more intuitive discovery experience, while the ability to rotate for the full landscape view ensures mobile viewers aren’t missing out.
2K Streaming Rollout
Streamers can look forward to higher fidelity streams as Twitch expands 2K (1440p) streaming. The main points are:
- Beta access is expanding to Partners and Affiliates.
- This will come with increased bitrates and the use of the HEVC codec for better quality at lower bitrates.
- Enhanced Broadcasting will automatically adjust stream quality based on viewer bandwidth.
With much of the internet moving beyond 1080p and rivals like YouTube offering 4K, Twitch’s expansion into 2K streaming feels like a necessary step to keep pace.
The Enhanced Broadcasting approach, where streamers send multiple encodes, is clever. However, this does raise concerns about the increased load on the streamer’s PC and higher upload bandwidth requirements, which could be an issue for some.
Hopefully, Twitch and OBS will build in helpful prompts to prevent a poor experience if a streamer’s setup can’t handle it. It will be interesting to see the new bitrate limits.
Pause, Rewind, Resume… With a Catch
One of the most requested features, live stream rewind, is finally on its way. This will allow viewers to:
- Rewind a live stream to catch up on missed moments.
- Resume the stream and join the action in real-time.
- However, access to Rewind will be paywalled behind a channel subscription or an active Turbo subscription.
The arrival of a rewind feature has been long anticipated, almost laughably so, given its prevalence elsewhere. As covered previously when Kick launched their version, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy admitted the platform’s infrastructure made rewind “technically complex and potentially expensive.”
The reveal that Twitch’s Rewind will be paywalled will undoubtedly draw criticism, especially with free alternatives on YouTube and Kick. However, given the significant technical overhaul and ongoing storage costs, it’s a somewhat understandable move.
This gives Twitch a way to recoup investment and adds another tangible perk to subscribing or using Turbo – a reasonable compromise, even if it stings a bit for non-subs.
Combos Are Coming (Officially)
The previously teased Combos feature is now formally launching. This tool will allow:
- Communities to rally together spending Bits to trigger on-screen effects and amplify moments.
- Streamers to receive 100% of the Bit value.
Combos, as mentioned when first teased, still feel a bit gimmicky and perhaps too inspired by TikTok and YouTube. However, if they genuinely help streamers monetize and make audiences feel more involved by allowing them to influence the content and express reactions, they could be a positive addition.
The key will be providing streamers with enough control to prevent them from becoming repetitive and whether communities embrace them as a fun, spontaneous way to show support or see them as another short-lived feature.
Streamer-Led Promotions
Creators will soon have more control over their own sales with streamer-led promotions. The initial offering includes:
- 70 hours of promotional time per year for Partners and Affiliates, usable in up to seven blocks.
- The first promotion type will be 35% off bundles of 5+ gift subs.
Giving creators the ability to run their own discount windows for specific milestones like stream anniversaries is an interesting concept, and the flexibility in using those 70 hours is a plus. However, limiting it to 35% off 5+ gift sub bundles feels a bit restrictive. Hopefully, more options are on the horizon.
Unlocking Monetization & Easier Affiliate Status
Perhaps one of the most impactful shifts announced involves making monetization more accessible. Key changes include:
- All streamers gaining access to select monetization tools (like Bits and subs) before reaching Affiliate status, with accrued revenue spendable on-platform.
- Affiliate status requirements being significantly reduced:
- 3 CCV on 4 Days (was 3 CCV over 30 Days)
- Stream 4 Days (was 7 Days)
- Stream 4 Hours (was 8 hours)
- Get 25 Followers (was 50 Followers)
Allowing earning from day one (even if you can only spend it on Twitch initially before Affiliate), combined with much more achievable Affiliate requirements, is an excellent development for aspiring creators.
As noted before, letting streamers use their earnings on-platform is a smart way for Twitch to keep money in its ecosystem, but for new streamers, faster access to using their earnings is a win.
Clips Overhaul: Suggested Clips, Better Workflow, Reactions & Rewards
Twitch is significantly upgrading its Clips functionality with several enhancements:
- New tools will suggest Clips from engaging stream moments for easier review, editing, and publishing.
- A less disruptive clipping flow for viewers, allowing clipping without leaving the stream.
- The addition of Clip Leaderboards, Top Clipper chat badges, and reactions to Clips.
The idea of finishing a stream and having suggested best moments ready is appealing, and hopefully, these suggested clips will be available in both horizontal and vertical formats if you’re dual-streaming. Rewarding clippers with badges and leaderboards is a smart move to incentivize this community activity.
Watch Streaks Rolling Out
The Watch Streaks feature, which has been in testing, is set for a wider release. This will:
- Reward community members for regular attendance with channel points.
- Allow viewers to maintain streaks by watching a Clip or VOD from a missed stream.
Wrapping Up The TwitchCon Deluge
It’s clear Twitch is pushing on multiple fronts – from technical upgrades like 2K streaming and the long-awaited rewind, to new monetization avenues and a continued focus on mobile and content discovery.
While many of these changes seem positive and address long-standing creator requests, the real impact will, as always, depend on flawless execution and genuine adoption by the community. It’s a lot to digest, but certainly an interesting roadmap for the year ahead.
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.
- YouTube is introducing Side-by-Side Ads for livestreams, where the stream mutes and continues visually alongside the ad, resuming audio once the ad finishes or is skipped.
- YouTube has officially launched AV1 codec support for viewing livestreams, promising sharper video quality with more detail, currently rolling out to select high-traffic streams.
- An Aftermath report highlights how emote artists are grappling with the rise of AI art, which threatens their livelihood as AI tools scrape existing art, amidst accusations of Twitch itself using AI for global emotes and category banners.
