While there are numerous platforms for video game streamers to share their live content for their fans, Twitch still reigns supreme. Earlier today, the popular streaming site launched brand new feature in beta, called Subscriber Streams, that will allow both Partners and Affiliates to host streams viewable only by those who are subscribed to their channel. According to a blog post on the Twitch website, the new feature is “an exciting new way for streamers to offer another benefit to some of their biggest supporters — subscribers, VIPs, and Mods.”
Streamers will now have the option to stream to subscribers only, which will cause those unsubscribed to see only a preview video instead of the full stream. Those users then have the option to subscribe to the channel to immediately view the full stream. When a streamer starts a Subscriber Stream, a small white star will appear in the Followed Channels list along with their name, profile picture icon, streaming content, viewer count, and red live icon. The stream will automatically get the tag ‘Subscriber Stream’ as well, to allow users to easily find all who are utilizing the new feature.
Twitch has also implemented some requirements as well, aside from needing to be a Partner or Affiliate, to make a Subscriber Stream. The feature will only be available to those who have not received any type of violation in the past 90 unique streaming days. Any streamer who initially meets this requirement and then picks up a violation will need to start from scratch in order to use the feature again. Twitch stresses that even though the stream will lock out some users, it is not a private stream. The Subscriber Stream will still show a preview to non-subscribers, and can always be reported by anyone if they feel it violates Twitch’s Terms of Service or Community Guidelines.
The feature launches in beta today, so there may still be changes to come to the system in the future as it gets tweaked here and there. Twitch is also asking for feedback from its users to make Subscriber Streams even better.