The vertical revolution presses on. Owned by Amazon, the streaming platform Twitch has begun testing a new vertical video broadcasting format. This represents a significant pivot for the service as it seeks to adapt to mobile usage and compete with TikTok.
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“Alpha” Testing for Select Streamers
Information detected by analytics firm AppSensa confirms an announcement made by Twitch at its annual convention. The mobile app has started to roll out a vertical streaming mode to a very limited number of streamers.
Initial findings in the app’s code reveal the introduction of a “vertical mode” and a toggle button to switch between the traditional horizontal layout and this new format. Currently, the test is highly limited, but Twitch plans to expand this rollout by the year’s end.
The Inevitable “TikTokification” of Twitch
This shift is somewhat revolutionary for Twitch. Traditionally linked to video gaming, the platform was built on the 16:9 horizontal format of computer screens. However, with TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts dominating mobile, Twitch is compelled to adapt.
Twitch had already made a preliminary move in this direction by launching a “discovery feed” of vertically formatted clips. But with this test, it marks the first time the platform is experimenting with live stream broadcasts in this format.
A Real Challenge for Video Gaming
While the vertical format is well-suited for “Just Chatting” streams or outdoor vlogs, it poses a significant challenge for Twitch’s core business: video gaming. Nearly all video games are designed to be viewed on a wide screen.
Thus, video game streamers will need to find innovative ways to present their content so that it remains clear and engaging on a vertically held phone screen.
What’s the Verdict?
Twitch faces a conundrum. The platform dominates live game streaming, but this format is increasingly less popular among younger generations, who prefer quick, bite-sized vertical videos. This pivot is therefore a defensive move to stay relevant and an acknowledgment that the TikTok format has won the usage war.
The biggest challenge for Twitch will be persuading its main community, the video game streamers, to adopt a format that isn’t designed for their type of content. This is a risky gamble: in trying to attract the TikTok audience, Twitch might alienate its longtime users without successfully capturing the newcomers. What do you think—does watching a video game stream in vertical format on your phone sound like a good idea?
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