Twitch has updated its policies to explicitly prohibit streamers from promoting or redirecting viewers to concurrent livestreams on competing platforms. The new rules target all forms of active promotion during Twitch broadcasts, including links in chat, banners, About panels, broadcast titles, and even QR codes that might tempt viewers to watch elsewhere.
While streamers can still mention they have a presence on other platforms, they can’t actively encourage their Twitch audience to leave for a simultaneous stream. This means no more “heading over to Kick now, follow me there” announcements or chat commands that provide direct links to ongoing streams on YouTube or other competitors.
The policy clarifies what’s still permitted: Streamers can list social media links in their About sections and maintain profiles on multiple platforms. Simulcasting itself remains allowed for most streamers. The key distinction is that Twitch no longer wants its platform used as a promotional vehicle for competitors.
This move comes amid an increasingly competitive streaming landscape. Platforms like Kick have aggressively recruited Twitch talent with better revenue splits and more lenient content policies. High-profile streamers including xQc, Ninja, and Pokimane have experimented with multiplatform approaches, sometimes encouraging viewers to follow them elsewhere.
Twitch’s official reasoning centers on “protecting viewer engagement and the community experience.” In practical terms, the company doesn’t want streamers building audiences on Twitch only to funnel them elsewhere mid-broadcast.
Enforcement will reportedly begin with warnings before any suspensions are issued. The policy applies to all streamers except those with specific exclusive agreements that might contain different terms.
The timing coincides with ongoing debates about Twitch’s ad loads, revenue splits, and content policies. As streamers increasingly explore options across multiple platforms, Twitch is setting clearer boundaries around how its service can be used alongside competitors.
For streamers who rely on multiple platforms for income, this represents a significant shift. They’ll need to adjust their cross-promotion strategies to comply with the new guidelines or risk penalties.
