YouTube Gaming has disclosed that in 2022, they’ll be releasing a slew of new features to its streaming service, including a number of Twitch-inspired modifications.
Twitch has easily cemented its spot as the internet’s favorite gaming broadcasting site for years. However, there have been a few challengers that have recently made headlines. YouTube Gaming has been acquiring several of Twitch’s most popular creators in recent years, including TimTheTatMan and DrLupo in the second half of 2021.
More Twitch-type features, such as stronger chat moderation tools, the ability to ‘raid’ another channel, and adoption of third-party emotes like BTTV and FrankerZ, have been requested as more streamers migrate from Twitch to YouTube. YouTube appears to have heeded those calls, as they are now implementing some significant adjustments.
On October 29, YouTube Gaming’s Ryan ‘Fwiz’ Wyatt highlighted some of the platform’s intentions for 2022, adding that some of the modifications had been developed in collaboration with Valkyrae and CouRage. Gifted Memberships and Live Redirect for Gaming are two of the greatest changes that any long-time Twitch user will notice right away. The first is self-explanatory: YouTube Members may now give streaming subscriptions to others, while the second is similar to Twitch’s raid tool.
Some newbie YouTube streamers have expressed a need for improved discoverability, citing how difficult it may be to navigate the platform when compared to Twitch’s directory.
The platform also said that they’ll be adding new stream moderation features and improving the newly released Clips tool so that it can smoothly transform into YouTube Shorts — YouTube’s response to TikTok.
It’s unclear when these capabilities will be available, but their additions may entice additional aspiring YouTube streamers to join the platform.
