Summary
- Twitch will allow new channels to accept subs and bits.
- Users have mixed feelings about the change, some excited and others worried.
- Concerns include potential ads on all channels and devaluing Affiliate/Partner status.
Twitch is making a major change that will allow new channels to accept subscriptions and bits from their audiences. Currently, only streamers who have Affiliate or Partner accounts are able to receive these types of donations from their Twitch viewers.
Twitch is making numerous changes in an effort to shake up its service and improve it for viewers and streamers. For example, Twitch announced changes to its ban system that will allow some permanently banned accounts to be forgiven. While that announcement was received fairly well, this one appears to be seeing a mixed response of excitement and trepidation from Twitch users.
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In a letter to the community, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy unveiled some of the changes that are coming to Twitch, including the ability for brand-new accounts to accept subscriptions and bits. Clancy describes it as “unlocking monetization for everyone” and explains that the service wants all users to be able to earn through the service. An exact date for this change wasn’t stated, with Clancy just noting that it would happen in 2025. He also wasn’t specific about any limitations, noting that “most streamers” would be able to do this from day one. There could be some limits placed depending on the Twitch streamer’s category or type of content.
Twitch Users Express Excitement and Worry Over Monetization Changes
Some Twitch users seem to be very pleased about this upcoming change, either for the sake of their own channels or those that they watch. However, a number of users have also expressed concern and confusion. The biggest issue is that viewers are worried that this could mean that ads are coming to all Twitch channels. While Clancy’s letter doesn’t explicitly state the ability to earn from ads, nor that they’ll be shown everywhere, currently, only Affiliates and Partners have the ability to show ads on their channels. Since part of the benefit of subscriptions on Twitch is avoiding these ads, it’s understandable why fans are speculating. Currently, only monetized accounts show ads on Twitch.
Another point of frustration is for streamers who worked hard to unlock Affiliate and Partner status on Twitch. Some said they felt like it was pointless, or wondered what they had worked so hard for it monetization was being made available to everyone. Presumably, there will still be some monetization benefits for Affiliates and Partners that standard accounts don’t have, but that’s only speculation at this point. While there may be some bumps in the road along the way, it is at least good to know that Twitch is attempting to make improvements that may benefit its streamers.