Twitch is testing a new feature that could change how viewers support streamers on the platform. The new tool, called ‘Gift ’em All,’ allows a user to gift subscriptions to many viewers at the same time. Instead of choosing a small number of people, the feature can give subs to everyone who is currently watching a stream and following the channel.
The feature is still in the testing phase, but it has already caught the attention of many Twitch users. Some think it could lead to very large donations during live streams. Others are curious about how it will work if a stream has thousands of viewers watching at the same time.
Twitch testing feature that lets users gift subs to all viewers watching a stream
The ‘Gift ’em All’ option works exactly like its name suggests. With a single click, a user can gift subscriptions to all eligible viewers who are currently watching a stream. However, the subs will only go to viewers who are following the channel but are not already subscribed.
Right now, the feature only appears on desktop browsers, and not everyone can see it. Twitch said the option will only appear from time to time in a small number of channels while the company tests how it works.
The platform also explained that even when someone uses the feature, not every eligible viewer may receive a sub. This can happen because of things like lag, latency, or viewers joining and leaving the stream at the same time.
One interesting part of the experiment is that there does not seem to be a strict limit on how many subs can be gifted at once. For example, Twitch shared an image showing that a user could gift 200 subscriptions for around $998. If a stream has thousands of followers watching, the cost could become much higher.
The test comes after Twitch introduced another feature last year that allowed users to gift 1,000 subscriptions at once. That feature caused debate when a former Twitch manager claimed it was added to “squeeze every penny” from users who like to donate large amounts.
However, Twitch Chief Product Officer Mike Minton denied that claim. He said the feature was created to make things easier for a small number of users who already gift large numbers of subscriptions.
For now, ‘Gift ’em All’ is still an experiment. Twitch will likely watch how people use it before deciding if the feature should be added to more channels in the future.
