Twitch stirs controversy with 1,000 gifted subs addition, removal
Donations and subscriptions are among the biggest elements in many streamers’ income, and streaming giant Twitch recently stirred some fresh controversy by adding a 1,000-subscription gift feature only to quickly remove it from the platform.
Streaming is a full-time job for many content creators, and they try to maximize their revenues however they can. Revenues that come into a platform like Twitch don’t just affect the streamers, however, as Twitch also takes a cut from any streamer revenues introduced. So if a streamer receives gifted subs, Twitch will deduct its share before sending the rest of the money on to the streamer.
The new 1,000 gifted subs feature that Twitch has introduced was potentially set to increase the revenue for the platform and content creators alike, but it has unceremoniously been taken down amid outcry, controversy, and plenty of discussion around why it was added and then quickly removed.
Why the new 1,000 sub feature caused outrage among streamers, viewers
Twitch was called out for allegedly being “money-grabbing” and not thinking sufficiently about either its viewers or its streamers with the new and more expensive 1,000 gifted subs feature.
There are many reasons for the new feature to potentially be at issue. For one, many streamers have been the victim of getting large sub gifts and donation amounts, which they may receive and put to use, only to later find out that the transactions were charged back. This can happen when, for example, someone gets their parent’s credit card details and makes an authorized transaction. This has famously happened to Kai Cenat, but he’s far from alone.
Image credit: Twitch
Popular streamer Ludwig Ahgren also weighed in, claiming that the platform was just adding the new feature as a pure money-making method without considering its potential effects. He listed multiple features including the 1,000 gifted subs option, while also pointing to hype trains that pressure users to subscribe to channels in order to maintain them . Ludwig stated that Twitch should concentrate on making its app better rather than finding more ways to wring money out of its users.
An X user and self-proclaimed ex-Twitch employee echoed Ludwig’s sentiment, claiming the platform had only introduced this new feature to “hit [end-of-year] revenue targets” before getting into a public debate with a current Twitch product manager, further demonstrating how controversial the new feature immediately became upon its debut.
Viewers have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the new feature, with many claiming that a larger sub gift option would make it easier for users to overspend. Critics argue that the new 1,000 sub option could potentially make more impulsive fans gift subs they don’t have the money to comfortably cover. The severe and rampant backlash may be among the reasons why Twitch has so quickly removed the option to gift 1,000 subs.
Twitch removes 1,000 gifted subs feature same day it debuts
It’s unclear why Twitch removed the new feature, but the 1,000 gifted subs option disappeared from the platform silently within a day after it was first introduced.
Some users expressed their appreciation for Twitch taking into account viewer and streamer feedback regarding the new feature. They commended the platform for promptly removing the feature. Others weren’t so optimistic, and fresh speculation has been fueled by Twitch removing the 1,000 gifted subs without making any official statement on the matter.
Some viewers questioned whether the platform had removed the option because of an ongoing 35% discount on subscription costs, as that would significantly affect the revenue Twitch receives from the large gift of 1,000 subs.
While much of the discourse has centered around individuals donating large amounts of money and large numbers of subscriptions, it could also be that the option was added to provide more efficient means for high-value donations from rich companies and individuals looking to contribute to subathons and similar events. But even if that’s the case, the option still makes for a significant amount of money going to Twitch rather than directly to the streamer or a cause they’re promoting.
No official confirmation has been offered by Twitch as to the reasoning behind either the feature’s addition or its removal, and there is still a possibility that the larger gifted subs option may make a comeback after the current subs discount offers ends on December 1.
Feature image credit: Twitch
Khizar Mundia has been playing video games for as long as he can recall. Things have come a long way since the many days he spent playing the original NES, though. He now covers a variety of competitive games and esports, as well as the world of streaming, ranging from Twitch to Kick. If it’s of interest to gamers, it’s of interest to Khizar.
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