Twitch is getting more TikTok-ified with vertical game streaming. Also, “2K” (1440p) video will let you watch that League of Legends stream in a higher resolution. The ability to rewind streams is coming, too. CEO Dan Clancy made the announcements on Saturday at TwitchCon Europe.
Portrait-mode streaming makes it a little easier to watch gameplay on your phone. Until now, Twitch only supported the orientation for clips and IRL streams. Clips are short highlights that creators can share after a stream ends. And “In Real Life” content shows everyday activities rather than gameplay.
But some screens work much better in a landscape view. Fortunately, Twitch is also rolling out a dual-format mode. Creators can go live in vertical and horizontal orientations at once. You can watch the version that works best for your device. The company will begin testing “with a small number of channels” this summer. It will expand access later this year.
Twitch’s 1440p streams should be a welcome addition. (Who doesn’t like a sharper-looking video?) On the back end, it uses a newer HEVC codec that produces a better picture with a lower bitrate. And the platform’s Enhanced Broadcasting tech automatically tweaks the viewer’s resolution.
The 1440p streaming begins rolling out today to all partners and affiliates. But it’s in an open beta, so creators may need to wait for access.
Finally, Twitch is rolling out a rewind feature. If you miss part of a stream, you can scrub back to catch up on what you missed. That feature isn’t quite here yet, either. Twitch will test it with “a small number of viewers” this summer.