Twitch is implementing a new restriction on stored content, setting a 100-hour cap on highlights and uploads. Streamers exceeding this threshold will have their content automatically deleted until it falls within the limit. The update, which takes effect on April 19th, aims to reduce storage costs.
Twitch cites low engagement for storage cap
According to Twitch, highlights have not been effective in boosting discovery or engagement, making the storage costs unjustifiable. The platform, owned by Amazon—a leading cloud storage provider—faced criticism from streamers over the decision.
Popular streaming platform Twitch will no longer allow broadcasts that focus on intimate parts of the body.
Only highlights and uploads affected by the new rule
The policy applies to edited highlight clips and third-party uploaded content. However, other on-demand content, such as clips and vods, remains unaffected. Notably, vods are already subject to automatic deletion.
How Twitch users can manage their content
Streamers exceeding the 100-hour limit can download their highlights and uploads before the rule takes effect. Twitch will begin deleting content starting with highlights that have the fewest views. To assist users in managing their videos, a new storage tracker will be available on the video producer page. Additional filtering options will allow sorting by length, view count, and creation date.
Twitch aims to optimize resources with the new limit
Twitch stated that this change impacts less than 0.5% of active channels and less than 0.1% of hours watched. The platform believes the move will help optimize resources while maintaining support for highlights and uploads. Twitch also aims to invest in improved engagement tools such as clips and the mobile feed.
The speedrunning community faces a major setback
The update is expected to have a significant impact on the speedrunning community, which relies heavily on highlights to archive gameplay history. While content can be exported to other platforms, the process is time-consuming and could disrupt existing records.
Concerns over preserving gaming history
Speedrunners have voiced concerns over the change, noting that highlights serve as a crucial archive for past runs, including records from inactive streamers. One Twitch forum user emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that “crippling the highlights feature is going to be an unmitigated disaster for speedrun history.”
