Twitch revolutionizes streaming with video stories, an interactive vertical feed and @mentions. Find out how these new features boost streamer engagement and captivate viewers.
Twitch, the famous streaming platform live, continues to innovate to meet the needs of its community. With the introduction of Twitch stories videoand the @mentions feature, the company seems determined to boost user engagement while competing with the big names in social media. But what makes these new features so impactful, and why could these additions transform your Twitch experience?
Twitch Stories Video: A New Way to Connect
Since last year, Twitch has introduced photo and text stories. This time, the addition of Twitch stories video offers an even more immersive dimension for creators. These videos, limited to 60 seconds, can be created directly through the mobile app or uploaded from users' camera roll. This feature aims to help streamers share spontaneous moments or important updates, even when they're not live.
With Twitch Stories videos, creators can maintain a constant connection with their audience, complementing their traditional streams. Imagine a streamer sharing behind-the-scenes preparation before a big live stream, or moments from their daily life. These short-form pieces of content allow for a more intimate and interactive relationship with fans, making each interaction more authentic and personal.
A format inspired by social media trends
The success of stories is no accident. Popularized by Snapchat, this format has conquered almost all major social platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. With Twitch stories video, the platform is part of this evolution, offering a new opportunity for streamers to share short and captivating content without leaving their main ecosystem.
But Twitch doesn't stop there. To encourage engagement, video stories integrate tools like polls or the option to ask questions directly in the videos. In addition, the @mentions feature allows you to personalize interactions, for example by greeting a new follower or thanking a loyal subscriber. These options make interactions richer, stimulating both viewer engagement and creator visibility.
A visual overhaul inspired by TikTok
In addition to Twitch Stories video feeds, the platform has introduced a major overhaul of its app. The vertical feed now becomes the central element of the interface, strongly reminiscent of TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. Each time users open the app, they are greeted directly by a video from one of the channels they follow. By swiping up, they can explore new channels suggested by the algorithm.
This vertical feed isn’t just a copy-and-paste. Twitch is focused on discovering relevant content and engaging in real-time. Users can also quickly view viral clips from their favorite channels, with recommendations based on their viewing habits. This strategy aims to maximize retention of mobile users, a segment that now accounts for nearly 50% of connections to the platform.
Maximizing user engagement
With its Twitch stories video and its interactive stream, Twitch is clearly looking to strengthen user loyalty. According to the company's statistics, the platform has more than 80 million monthly visitors and approximately 7.23 million active streamers worldwide. By facilitating access to short and captivating content, Twitch hopes to reduce its creators' reliance on other social networks like Instagram or TikTok.
However, it’s unlikely that the most influential creators will abandon these competing platforms entirely. They offer global reach and a more diverse audience. That said, Twitch’s new features allow creators to centralize more of their activity, from promoting streams to announcing schedule changes, directly on Twitch.
Accessibility and innovation
Another important step in this strategy is the expansion of the accessibility of stories. Initially limited to the mobile application, the Twitch stories video are now also available on the web app. A strategic decision, since the majority of viewers use Twitch on computers. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that users can follow their favorite creators, no matter what device they are using.
With these new features, Twitch is proving that it has no intention of settling for its current status. The platform wants to become a key player, not only for live streaming, but also for social interactions and short-form content. The integration of these varied tools shows how Twitch is looking to expand its ecosystem to offer a complete and personalized experience.
What you need to remember
With the Twitch stories video, the vertical feed and new features like @mentions, Twitch is clearly positioning itself as a hybrid platform between live streaming and social networks. This “tiktokization” strategy could well revolutionize the way creators interact with their audience. It remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to convince streamers to centralize their activity on Twitch, while capturing the attention of viewers in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.