X launches Live Studio in bid to rival Twitch and Kick
Social media giant X has been pushing for content streamers to start livestreaming on the platform, and Head of Product Nikita Bier has announced the launch of Live Studio.
X isn’t particularly known for its livestreaming capabilities, and the platform is typically used by clippers to make memorable moments go viral. However, X Head of Product Nikita Bier has been encouraging creators to multistream their content on the platform for the past few months. Bier has now revealed that X’s Live Studio is officially live and has also announced that the platform has allocated funds for creators.
What is X Live Studio?
X Live Studio is X’s latest tool for creators, serving as a command center that allows streamers to start livestreams, connect with followers, and manage broadcasts. It is also easy to access: users simply need to go to Creator Studio, where they’ll find the Live Studio option under the Tools tab. Once there, users can see previous, scheduled, and current livestreams. Analytics are also available, allowing creators to check a stream’s view count and peak concurrent viewership.
The option to start a new livestream is also available, and when creators click it, a pop-up prompts them to enter their stream details, schedule and audience. X has also announced a $1 million fund to reward creators who livestream on the platform during the next cycle. It’s unclear at this time how the monetization program will work or how creators will be incentivized through the allocated funds.
The reaction to the announcement X post has been largely positive, with some creators stating that the new feature will make streaming more efficient. However, some users argue that X is trying to add too much. They say that streaming should stay on dedicated livestreaming platforms, and that X should focus on its social features.
Wider context: X Live Studio’s place compared to Kick and Twitch
It’s recently become clear that X is trying to expand its feature set and attract creators in an effort to become a major livestreaming platform, but it faces an uphill battle against established competitors. Twitch and Kick have been around for years, and both platforms prioritize livestreaming. X, on the other hand, has only recently begun promoting streaming, and while it may be placing greater emphasis on livestreaming, the platform still serves many other purposes.
To the average user — and even many streamers — X still feels like a social platform with a livestreaming feature also available. Twitch and Kick , by contrast, are dedicated livestreaming platforms and offer established, streamer-focused ecosystems, which is one of X’s biggest disadvantages at this stage.
Twitch and Kick also offer more features for creators and viewers, which gives them an advantage over X. Kick, for instance, recently launched Daily Rewards, a feature that allows viewers to earn emotes and badges simply by watching streams. Similarly, Twitch offers the Raid feature, which allows creators to send their followers to other streamers’ broadcasts, helping boost those channels’ viewership.
Twitch and Kick have had years to establish themselves, whereas X is just getting started. Despite Nikita Bier claiming that “X is where everything is happening,” it remains to be seen how many creators will adopt X Live Studio. While X may become a worthy rival in the future, the platform will need time, continued investment, and a clear strategy to compete with established livestreaming services — but the change in direction under Elon Musk’s ownership is clear to see.
Image credit: X Live Studio
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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