Twitch recently revealed a change to the platform, inviting streamers across the United States to spend their hard-earned income on Twitch. The overhaul allows content creators to ‘give back’ to their community or simply support other streamers, rather than, I don’t know, keeping the money to support their literal lives.
The change has not been taken well by the streaming community, despite it being completely optional.
Nobody Liked That
In a post on social media, the Twitch Support team revealed the new function that allows content creators to take their earnings and roll them into Bits, gifted subs, and more, without ever having the money leave the platform:
We are rolling out the ability to buy Bits and gift subs with the money you make streaming on Twitch. Give back to your community or support other streamers you love using your spendable balance. We’re starting the rollout in the US in the coming days, and will be extending access globally over the course of the year.
Fans have complained that the scheme is shady and allows Twitch to ‘pocket more’ of the average streamer’s income. The platform already claims 50% of gifted subscriptions, and with this new function, streamers would use the money earned to buy gifted subscriptions, from which another 50% is taken by the platform.
It’s admittedly very strange, and nobody understands why this is a thing at all. All it does is remove a manual step and allow you to more automatically give back to your followers and the wider streaming community.
If I’ve learned one thing from the streaming space, it’s that most people are inherently selfish, so I can’t understand who Twitch is trying to appeal to with this change.
Do you think this move is a win? Let me know on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Techland has made a major Dying Light voice actor change
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
Close the platform down it’s not profitable and their plants like Cinnamon aren’t helping. Parti and Kick replaced them.
They let Hasan and the t squad enablers stya but Sol got banned. I swear I blame Ethan he and others could sue but dont.
Twitch is trash now Sol unbanned? He shouldn’t have been banned to begin with and they let Hasan continue. Scared cuz Kick discussions occurred