Twitch Starts Testing Vertical Video Streams — A New Era for Mobile Viewers

Twitch, Amazon’s popular live-streaming platform, has begun testing vertical video streams, marking a significant shift in how content could be consumed and created on the platform. This move aligns Twitch with modern mobile-first trends and positions it to compete more directly with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Image Credits:Twitch

Why the Shift to Vertical?

Vertical video has become the default format for mobile consumption. With over 70% of Twitch’s audience accessing content via mobile devices, optimizing for vertical viewing seems like a natural evolution. TikTok’s explosive success demonstrated just how powerful vertical video can be for engagement and discovery.

According to Twitch, the new format is part of their initiative to “modernize the viewing experience” and “increase content discoverability”, especially for newer creators.

Image Credits:Restream

How Will It Work?

Currently, the vertical streaming feature is being tested with a limited number of streamers. Here’s what we know so far:

• Dual Aspect Support: Streamers can simultaneously broadcast in landscape and vertical formats.
• Mobile Feed Integration: Vertical videos may appear in a TikTok-style scrollable feed on the Twitch mobile app.
• Discoverability Boost: Short vertical clips or highlights could be surfaced to help users find new streamers.

This could eventually lead to algorithm-based content discovery, similar to TikTok’s “For You” page, making it easier for new or smaller streamers to gain visibility.

What It Means for Streamers

The introduction of vertical video could offer several new opportunities:

• Increased Reach: More mobile-friendly content means better chances of viewer retention.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Vertical content can be easily repurposed for Instagram, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok.
• Creative Flexibility: Streamers can experiment with behind-the-scenes clips, highlight reels, or vertical-first live sessions.

However, it also brings challenges — creators might need to adjust their production setups and consider multi-format content planning.

Twitch’s Ongoing Evolution

This experiment is one of several recent steps by Twitch to modernize and stay competitive. From introducing Discovery Feeds to improving monetization tools, Twitch seems determined to adapt to the rapidly changing content landscape.

If successful, vertical video could become a mainstay on the platform, potentially leading to new content formats, ad strategies, and creator tools in the near future.