Twitch has rolled out a host of new tools and features at TwitchCon Rotterdam 2025, aimed at improving the livestreaming experience for both creators and viewers. From new monetization options and mobile enhancements to support for right-to-left Arabic text, the updates underscore Twitch’s push to strengthen its global presence—especially in the MENA region, where viewership continues to rise sharply.
CEO Dan Clancy took the stage at the event’s opening ceremony to outline Twitch’s latest roadmap, aligning with earlier promises to better support creator growth. While the platform still dominates the gaming livestreaming market with over 60% share and daily viewership averaging 46 million hours, this round of updates shows Twitch is focused on refining the experience across both tech infrastructure and community engagement.
One of the more notable announcements is Twitch’s upcoming support for right-to-left Arabic interface text. The update will make Twitch more accessible to Arabic-speaking streamers and viewers, with rollout expected later this summer. This move comes at a time of strong regional growth, with over 209 million hours of content watched across MENA in 2024 alone.
Twitch is also testing dual-format streaming, allowing creators to broadcast in both horizontal and vertical formats simultaneously. A new vertical layout is being introduced to improve the mobile experience, particularly for features like sub gifting, cheering, and Hype Trains, all while keeping the stream fullscreen. These formats are expected to help streamers better engage mobile-first audiences.
In a significant technical upgrade, Twitch is rolling out 2K streaming in Open Beta for Partners and Affiliates. This higher-resolution option uses the HEVC codec to offer improved video quality at lower bitrates, with streams dynamically adjusting based on bandwidth. Enhanced Broadcasting tech aims to reduce lag and deliver a smoother viewing experience across devices.
For monetization, Twitch introduced Combos, a new interaction mechanic that builds on the platform’s use of Bits. Viewers can trigger Combos with a single tap, encouraging others in chat to join in, unlocking animated effects in the process. The goal is to turn spontaneous moments into monetizable events, without disrupting the flow of live chat.
Streamers will also soon be able to launch their own gift sub promotions. These time-limited campaigns will offer discounts on bundles of gift subs and can be used up to seven times per year. Twitch says it will experiment with additional promotion types beyond the initial offering of 35% off bundles of five or more subs.
Affiliate eligibility is being made more accessible, and Twitch is also adjusting how earnings are handled for newer streamers—allowing access to revenue even before meeting the traditional payout threshold.
In response to shifting viewer habits, Twitch is doubling down on short-form content. Clips are getting more visibility and engagement features, including the ability to comment and react directly. A more intuitive clip creation process, new commands, and post-stream editing tools are also being tested. These changes are aimed at making Clips a more central part of the Twitch ecosystem, particularly for mobile users.
Rewind functionality is also coming. Later this summer, Twitch will begin testing the ability for viewers to jump back in a stream and catch up on missed moments, then return to the live broadcast seamlessly.
Mod tools are also seeing improvements, especially on mobile. A redesigned Mod View will roll out for Android on Monday, providing moderators with a simplified, screen-friendly interface. Shared Chat management is also being made more mobile-friendly, which is especially useful for IRL streamers who operate on the go.
To support its behind-the-scenes community further, Twitch is launching the Twitch Moderators Club, a private Discord group dedicated to mod support, connection, and education. The initiative echoes similar efforts such as the Unity Guilds and Creator Clubs, and signals Twitch’s growing focus on community health and moderation infrastructure.
As TwitchCon continues its 10-year anniversary celebration with another event planned for San Diego later this year, today’s updates show Twitch isn’t standing still. While competition in the livestreaming space intensifies, Twitch’s current focus appears to be less about headline features and more about tuning its platform to fit how streamers and viewers actually engage in 2025.
