Twitch's EU subscription withdrawal policy worries streamers
The latest change Twitch must make to comply with evolving regulations is the subscription withdrawal option, allowing viewers to receive a full refund — and streamers are concerned about how it will affect the industry.
Livestreaming platforms are accustomed to adapting to new regulations as governments around the world introduce measures to protect users online. Twitch has previously introduced age verification measures as lawmakers in several regions pushed for the platform to ensure it could limit access to certain content based on viewers’ ages. Now, EU lawmakers are expanding a consumer protection measure that Twitch will soon need to comply with, but creators have expressed concerns over its potential for misuse.
What is Twitch’s Withdraw from Sub, and why are streamers concerned?
The subscription withdrawal feature is an upcoming addition that will allow viewers to receive a full refund for a subscription within 14 days. This right has existed under EU consumer law for years, but companies are now being required to provide users with an easier way to exercise it. As a result, Twitch must introduce a dedicated button that lets viewers request a refund with a single click. A screenshot of the feature shows that viewers simply need to confirm the withdrawal, after which they will receive a refund to their original payment method within 10 business days.
This may seem like a protective measure for viewers, but some creators disagree. They have expressed concerns about viewers subscribing, using subscriber-only perks such as emotes, badges, and an ad-free experience, before eventually requesting a refund. This concern is shared by many creators, and some streamers have even claimed that they will stop offering subscription rewards once the feature launches. However, some users are optimistic, stating that Twitch has no choice but to implement the feature to comply with EU rules, and that the platform may have safeguards in place to prevent abuse of the refund policy.
Creators worry other livestreaming platforms can be affected
There is speculation that other livestreaming platforms, such as Kick and YouTube, may also be affected. If Twitch is introducing the subscription withdrawal feature to comply with EU regulations, other livestreaming platforms may eventually be required to implement similar measures. This means Kick subscriptions and YouTube memberships could also receive a refund option for eligible users in the EU.
The streaming community is divided on whether this new feature is a good thing or whether it could lead to more abuse. Streamer Velkyen posted on X, suggesting that a viewer could subscribe to a channel for 13 days, use subscriber-only benefits, and then withdraw the subscription for a full refund.
How Twitch and other platforms will address this potential issue remains to be seen, as the financial impact would not only affect streamers but also the platforms themselves. Regardless of how livestreaming platforms respond, this new compliance measure could reshape how subscriptions work in the future.
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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