New Twitch content guidelines will limit branded ads, promotions [Now with Twitch comment]

Gaming

News

This includes how large an on-screen ad can be, whether or not “burn-in” ads–video ads inserted directly into the stream via OBS or the overlay–are allowed, and more. And in typical fashion, the changes are making content creators none too happy.

Editor’s note:Twitch has since commented on the goings-on:

Twitch content guidelines: Change for the better?

First off: What does branded content mean when it comes to Twitch guidelines? The following is what Twitch considers to be that territory:

Twitch will not be enforcing the use of this tool until July of this year.

Formats permitted with limitations

Formats limited or not allowed

The reason for the change? Twitch content guidelines may potentially limit its own liability in regards to promotions it cannot control. Twitch can police something like an ad that goes into a panel, but less so for something like an overlay ad or an audio segment. Those only go noticed when reported or spotted by a moderator.

And if we want to know how the top echelon of streamers feel, look no furtherthan comment from Mr. Beast himself. “Hey Twitch, how about instead of handicapping what creators make, you help them make more? Seems more logical,” he said in a Twitter post earlier today.

It also appears Twitch continues cutting off its own nose despite its face. Will this further push creators and viewers into the loving arms of YouTube or even Kick? Only time will tell.