Twitch Announces Launch Of New Story Features To Improve User Involvement

TwitchCon Las Vegas is scheduled to start this weekend. (photo: Twitter @twitch)

JAKARTA - TwitchCon Las Vegas is scheduled to start this weekend. In connection with the event, Twitch has announced that it will be rolling out a new story feature on the Twitch mobile app.

"By entering a story into Twitch's experience, we've made it easier for you to connect directly with your community on Twitch," wrote senior product manager Eduardo Fenili, on Twitch's blog. "Access to eligible users will be launched in stages towards the weekend and in line with the fulfillment of minimum eligibility requirements by streamers."

Stories on Twitch will work exactly like the features in other social media apps. Applicable users can post images, text messages, or clips that will disappear after 48 hours. Viewers will be able to see stories from creators they follow in a special space at the top of the Twitch app.

Currently, stories are only available for affiliates and partners who have broadcasted one in the last 30 days, where Twitch says it is likely to expand this feature to more users over time.

According to Fenili, stories will make it easier for streamers to connect with their audience. Creators will be able to use their channel emoticons and create backgrounds, while also being able to create stories from self-made clips or content.

Users with 30 or more subscribers (including gift subscriptions) will also have the ability to create subscriber stories. Twitch will offer analytics to the story, and viewers will also get notifications when creators they follow post new stories.

Twitch emphasizes that security is a major concern in story launches. "Contents created and shared in the story will be subject to the same community guidelines as other content on Twitch, and you can report stories that violate this standard directly within the app," the blog wrote.

Stories seem to be another way for Twitch to keep users active on their site while rolling out a feature that may help streamers address the issue of audience engagement that is always there.