Twitch updates policy to allow simulcasting on competitor streaming platforms

Twitch has updated its policy to allow creators to simultaneously stream on any other live streaming platform, expanding their previous policy that only allowed simulcasting on mobile platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This new policy is only applicable to streamers without exclusivity agreements with Twitch, who are now enabled to simulcast on multiple and major alternatives such as Kick or YouTube.

The policy comes with specific guidelines, such as ensuring that the stream quality on Twitch matches that on other platforms, and streamers are advised not to share links to their Twitch community on other platform simulcasts. While they can share third-party website links on their About pages, they cannot link to their other simulcasts while live on Twitch. The use of third-party services to merge chats across platforms is also prohibited.

In addition to policy changes, Twitch has also made several product updates. The Guest Star feature is now called Stream Together, with added features like chat merging. The platform is currently testing a Discovery Feed for live channel recommendations, which was introduced in July during TwitchCon in Paris, and has improved its alert system to support custom animated emotes for notifications such as subscribers and Bits donations. The platform has also added doxxing and swatting to its off-service conduct policy as enforceable behaviors to better protect streamers, it has also highlighted the new feature of stories available in the mobile app. For more details, you find the event wrap-up here.