Twitch has begun testing vertical livestreams as part of its efforts to adapt to changing viewer habits and compete with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. The feature, announced earlier this year at TwitchCon Rotterdam, is currently in an alpha testing phase with a small group of streamers.
Features of vertical livestreams
The vertical livestream feature includes several key elements:
- Vertical Theater Mode: Optimized for mobile viewing, this mode allows users to toggle between vertical and horizontal formats.
- Dual-Format Streaming: Streamers can broadcast in both vertical and horizontal formats simultaneously, providing flexibility for different viewing preferences.
- Interactive Layout: The vertical format integrates features like Hype Trains, subscriptions and cheers.
Adapting to viewer’s preferences
The move to vertical video aligns with broader trends in video consumption, particularly among younger audiences. Platforms like TikTok have popularized vertical video and TikTok Live recently surpassed Twitch in viewership, becoming the second most-watched live content platform. Twitch’s introduction of vertical livestreams is part of its strategy to address these shifts and maintain its position in the livestreaming market.
“We really care about getting this right, so we’ll be testing dual format streaming and the new vertical theater with a small number of channels this summer before slowly expanding to more users later this year,” Twitch wrote on its blog.
Rollout and future plans
The feature is currently being tested with a limited number of streamers, with plans to expand access later in the year. Twitch is also rolling out other updates, such as 2K streaming for higher video quality, as part of its broader efforts to enhance the platform.
This development reflects Twitch’s response to evolving viewer preferences and increasing competition in the livestreaming space.