Twitch Support Testing New Features for Live Channels
Twitch Support recently announced that it will be testing three new features on live channel pages: Rewind, Remind Me, and Watch Trailer. These features serve to inform future updates and will only be available for a limited time.
A test footage has showcased these new features in action. The Rewind option allows viewers to backtrack two minutes in the stream and pick up from there. It will redirect users to the VOD (Video on Demand) with the option to switch back to the live broadcast. On the other hand, the Remind Me feature enables users to set up notifications for their favorite streamers and receive a message when they go live.
Channel trailers were added in 2020 and can currently be found on the ‘Videos’ page of a streamer’s channel. The new Watch Trailer button will soon allow viewers to watch the streamer’s channel trailer directly on the main page, provided the streamer has a preset trailer. These experimental features will only be available for a month for selected streamers and viewers.
The response to these features has been mixed. Some users view the Rewind option as redundant since it functions similarly to the VOD. Meanwhile, IRL streamer Jake’n’Bake has expressed concerns that the Rewind feature could compromise the safety of fellow IRL streamers.
The ability to Rewind could potentially expose streamers’ locations before they have the chance to end the broadcast and delete their VOD. Jake’n’Bake has suggested an option to disable this specific button, although it remains uncertain if this will be implemented.