In a nutshell
- Squad Stream allows up to four content creators to stream simultaneously in one stream but with four different feeds.
- Only Twitch Partners can squad stream
- Squad Streams allow viewers to see every streamer’s reaction in one place, rather than having to hop between streams or have multiple tabs open
Twitch, the popular video livestreaming service, has been gaining even more recognition since announcing back in 2019 its four-person Squad Stream feature to help users and creators get discovered. Since its launch, the feature has given streamers boosted coverage by engaging a broader scope of fans and assisting viewers in finding new people while building their community. So, if you want to spice up your streams, the Squad Stream feature may be what you need
What is squad streaming?
For those new to Twitch or who aren’t familiar with their features yet, Squad Stream is a feature that allows up to four content creators to stream at the same time while playing a multiplayer game. It’s a fun, innovative way of interacting during your gaming experience. When you enable Squad Stream mode, the display screen opens into a widescreen window with picture-in-picture screens of other gamers. Viewers can switch to another player’s screen by clicking on their window to make it the main screen. The feature allows each player and viewers to see what the other player is doing in real time.
Who can Squad Stream on Twitch?
The only downside to the Squad Stream feature is that it is limited to Twitch Partners. Though there is no minimum number of followers required to use the feature, creators have to be accepted into the Partner program first. However, affiliates can form groups together to create group streams and request their audiences to watch from third-party software, like MultiTwitch, that lets them watch all the streamers simultaneously.
How to Squad Stream?
Every Squad Stream has a main host — the streamer who brings the other players together. Usually, this host is the squad leader, who supervises the stream. The main player has to make sure that the players from the other channels are live before inviting them to squad stream. To start an invite to a squad stream, you first have to find Squad Stream on the Quick Actions panel on your dashboard’s Stream Manager. Then click “Add a Channel” and type the name of the channel you want to invite to your squad. You can invite up to three other channels. After that, you’re ready to get started on the best gaming experience of your life.
How to host a Squad Stream
There are two important steps to take to host a successful Squad Stream. First, access the Twitch stream manager. Next, invite your squad members and start your Squad Stream. Here’s the step-by-step process you should follow:
- Open Twitch on your browser and log in to your account
- Once logged in, click on your profile at the top right corner of the screen
- Click on “Creator Dashboard” from the menu.
- Go to “Stream Manager” on the left sidebar of your screen.
- In the “Quick Actions” section, click on the add button and select the “Start a Squad Stream” option.
- Next, invite members to add to your squad. You can do this by clicking on the Add a channel button and typing in the name of the channel to add the member. Keep in mind that you can only add up to three members to your squad.
- After everyone accepts their invites, you can click on the Start a Squad Stream button to begin the squad stream.
When you click Start Squad Stream in your Stream Manager, it adds a banner to each streamer’s channel page. If a viewer clicks the banner, they can watch all of your streams simultaneously in squad mode. This mode displays video from all of the squad streamers on the screen, with one video feed displayed larger than the others.
If one of the squad streamers leaves during the stream, their viewers will remain with the stream in squad mode. You can leave mid-stream if you’re the squad leader. If you do leave, the first channel you invited will automatically become the new squad leader.
How are viewers calculated during a Squad Stream?
Live views on Twitch are the number of views the stream received while streaming. This number includes all views from all sources during a livestream. Twitch calculates the average viewers by taking a total of the number of viewers of a stream at different points in time when streaming live. The number of viewers at each moment is tallied, and an average is taken. The percentage taken is the average number of viewers of the stream.
Who can you invite to a Squad Stream?
You can invite members of your choice to Squad Stream. There are just a few requirements to know first:
•They have to be on your friends list
•They have to follow you on Twitch
•They have to be in a Twitch team along with you
• All channels have to be live when you send them an invite to join their squad
These are mandatory requirements so you don’t invite streamers who don’t want to join your squad. Be mindful that during your Squad Stream, ads will appear. But they will only play on the channel that is in the primary slot. Viewers will be unable to switch views while an ad is playing. Also, while in Squad Stream mode, there are no voice or video capabilities to allow streamers to communicate with each other. To communicate with other partners you invite to play along, you have to use a third-party chat platform such as Discord.
How to monetize Squad Streams?
Now that you know how to Squad Stream and host a Squad Stream on Twitch, you are going to want to know how each participating partner will be monetized for the stream.
Viewers can switch to a particular streamer to feature them on their primary window. If they choose to donate bits during the stream, the proceeds will go to the streamer on their primary window. This is the same for making Ad revenue. Ad revenue will disperse according to whichever streamer each viewer has in their main viewing window.
As your community grows on Twitch, so does support and contributions. Viewers can subscribe to your channel and pay a minimum of $4.99 per month to support your channel, either on a recurring or one-time basis. Subscribers gain access to your emotes and other benefits you can define.
Another way to monetize your channel and Squad Stream play is through bits. Bits allow your viewers to “Cheer” in chat to show support, celebrate moments and augment their voice. When a viewer “Cheers,” animated Bit gem emotes, Cheermotes (animated versions of popular emotes), or custom Cheermotes (for Partners) appear in the chat. You receive $0.01 for each Bit used in your chat.
Get your squad ready
So there you have it. That’s everything you need to know about how to get started launching your own Squad Stream and earning while you have fun. Two perks rolled into one. That’s what makes Twitch so valuable. You are rewarded for having the best online gaming experience possible.
Featured image courtesy: HappyKrakenX