Skip to content
← Creators and Stream Features

How can we improve Twitch for Creators?

Creators and Stream Features: Other

Categories

JUMP TO ANOTHER FORUM

(thinking…)

Do not deprecate hosts.

There was a notice put out about hosts becoming deprecated next month.
This is an awful idea. Do not do this.
The reason given for doing it is clear and obvious deflection; it's false. No one with average viewership under like 6000 uses twitch chats as a community server; when someone is offline, that's it. Their attention is off the chat and elsewhere. The idea that hosts prevent interactions with streamers is complete bull.
Moreover, raids are not a direct replacement for hosts (most people don't even -know- this because this fact has been so thoroughly obfuscated,) because of the referral ID causing a viewer to not count to the raided channel for ad or partnership metrics. Hosting was an incredibly useful -community building tool- on twitch; you host into another channel, that user notes you down, they host into you and share their audience in a way that actually contributes useful numbers beyond "was a viewer". Raiding does not do this. Raiding is an anti-growth tool. Viewers might follow and check someone out again following a raid, but many are there primarily just because a streamer raided them over and have no interest in staying; hosts, because they required active interaction with the hosted channel were more likely to stay because it tested viewer interest.
Hosting was and still is an invaluable community tool. To remove it and not provide its actual functionality to raids is extremely anti-user.

2,094 votes

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close

We’ll send you updates on this idea

mdct shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
How important is this to you?

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close
Declined  ·  darkstorm responded  · 

Hello everyone! Thank you for coming together to bring us your feedback on Hosts. We made the decision to remove this feature because it consistently confuses viewers–particularly new viewers or those who are less familiar with Twitch–because they don’t realize the channel they visited is hosting another stream and also they cannot interact with the hosted streamer in chat.

We also hear your feedback and acknowledge the need for community building tools that help promote other streamers. We’ve recently introduced the following features that help you do that:

  • We recently released a feature called shoutout that lets you promote another streamer’s channel in your chat and makes it easy for your viewers to follow that channel without leaving your stream. To initiate the shoutout during your stream, use the chat command “/shoutout [channel]” - viewers who do not follow the channel will see a pop-up with a follow button for that channel. If the streamer has an upcoming stream in their schedule, the shoutout will also highlight their next scheduled stream with a button to set a reminder to watch.
  • Recommend another stream to viewers when you are offline by adding them to your Suggested Channels list in your channel settings (formerly known as your “Autohost list”). When their channel is live, their stream will appear in the carousel at the top of the page. You can also display your suggested streamers list in your streamer shelf.

We appreciate the feedback you’ve shared, and look forward to new suggestions that help your communities connect with one another.

We're glad you're here

Please sign in to leave feedback
Signed in as (Sign out)
Close
Close
Submitting...
An error occurred while saving the comment
  • TweeterTea commented  ·   ·  Report

    Its disappointing to see this feature being taken away, when visiting the pages of the people I spend time with in streams I'm ALWAYS more likely to stop in on the stream they're hosting. Most of the new streams I find are through the communities and people I spend time with. Recommendeds have never impacted what I watch and have found twitch's algorithm in that regard very much lacking, I have visited SO many of those suggested streams only to leave and look for someone a friend was hosting. Its disappointing to see this is pivoting to that "promotional" model. The people I interact with know me way better than the algorithm that's never suggested a stream I wanted to stay and watch.

  • Reaperofdarkn3ss commented  ·   ·  Report

    I agree and make sure everyone to share this and let everyone know

  • Static_101 commented  ·   ·  Report

    I want the hashtags to stay, this is not right.

  • Lady_Raven_Night commented  ·   ·  Report

    I would say keep the autohosting feature but display more than 4 to 6 streamers at once. It should be multiple and every hosted person a streamer has in order for my discovery + availability whenever they stream.

  • CurvishSundown commented  ·   ·  Report

    Please listen to your creators, Twitch.
    This only hurts streamers and guts visibility, reach, connectivity, and community and your platform.

    NOBODY wants Hosting to go away and nobody is asking for this.

  • Go1den commented  ·   ·  Report

    Also worth noting that auto-hosting allows a streamer to select an entire set of potential streams to display when their own ends. I don't believe raiding has an equivalent.

  • Reaperofdarkn3ss commented  ·   ·  Report

    I think we all should keep this not remove removing it will not help new streamer get discovered at all

  • quillient commented  ·   ·  Report

    Host is also an important community building tool in some cases. For example, when someone I regularly watch is running an event at GDQ or the like, I prefer to watch with that streamers community - while their channel hosts the major event. The chat experience is far better.

  • SpoTulip commented  ·   ·  Report

    Hosting has been a very important part in sharing other streamers and charity streams efficiently. Getting rid of it takes away a large factor in fostering Twitch communities.

  • BryFluff commented  ·   ·  Report

    Twitch says in their official statement, "We made the decision to deprecate this feature because the experience it delivers to viewers doesn’t match their expectations when they come to Twitch."

    Well the host feature matched my expectations, Twitch. It met my intended user experience, Twitch. Do I not count, Twitch? Why didn't you communicate with the people that use your platform before deciding this? You make vague generalizing statements for your user base as you make awful decisions, just like when removing auto-host, and the friends list, now this. I'm sick of it.
    I know that I discovered new streamers through seeing the hosts the people I follow made. I know for a fact that people who follow me joined in streams and met new streamers through me hosting others. Hosts benefit all streamers and taking the function away only harms content creators. Please, reconsider your actions, Twitch. Seriously.

  • bonkstrats commented  ·   ·  Report

    Another really great use for hosting is when there's a big event, generally the chat becomes a disaster, whether through inappropriate messages or even just volume of chatters. Hosting an event and having a small group of folks getting to chat together in the host channel makes big events on Twitch so much more enjoyable. Without and alternative that can provide that, and all the other use cases folks in the comments have mentioned, please do not remove this useful feature on Oct 3rd.

  • 이미나리 commented  ·   ·  Report

    The reason I like hosting more than Raid is because the channel (I sent hosting) turns off cleanly when it ends. The advantage of hosting is save veiwers data . Second, it prevents you from going to the channel you don't like while you're moving the channel several times. 🙄 I don't like lost my choices

  • VannahVan2016 commented  ·   ·  Report

    This is a terrible idea, all this is going to do is hurt small creators that already struggle to get attention. If you want small creators to be become large creators that make you more money, then don't make it harder for small creators to be discovered, make it easier!

    None of your suggestions alternates are as helpful as hosting currently is, these aren't replacements. Hosting is invaluable.

  • Mirby_Studios commented  ·   ·  Report

    Yeah, hosting is also a great way to foster a community by having someone's content on your channel while you're offline. You help other streamers grow and it creates nice camaraderie. There is no reason to deprecate host mode and I can't imagine why it was decided that it had to go.

  • 이미나리 commented  ·   ·  Report

    The reason I like hosting more than Raid is because the channel (I sent hosting) turns off cleanly when it ends. The advantage of hosting is save veiwers data . Second, it prevents you from going to the channel you don't like while you're moving the channel several times. 🙄 I don't like lost my choices

  • TheBlackCladWanderer commented  ·   ·  Report

    "Host mode is going away on October 3, 2022."... Why? every streamer I know, even viewers love the idea of the hosting channels.
    It is great for the hoster as it gives their community someone to watch when the hoster is offline.
    It is great for the hostee as they gain discoverability and possibility of new viewers.
    No one I have interacted with wants to see Hosting go.
    Hosting is something that is so ingrained in streamers now it will be a shock to see it go.

    LET US KEEP OUR HOSTING FEATURE THAT WE LOVE.

    I made my own user voice then a friend linked me here. Above is what I said in mine.

  • ezz_Breezy commented  ·   ·  Report

    When I first started streaming, hosts were an invaluable way for new people to find my channel. Numerous people would come into my chat being like "Hey! X streamer was hosting you so I thought I'd come to say hello.

    I don't see the benefit in removing a feature that streamers don't HAVE to put alerts for. I personally love and appreciate hosts. Really poor decision making and sad to see Twitch spending money to remove beloved features.

  • TheBlackCladWanderer commented  ·   ·  Report

    "Host mode is going away on October 3, 2022."... Why? every streamer I know, even viewers love the idea of the hosting channels.
    It is great for the hoster as it gives their community someone to watch when the hoster is offline.
    It is great for the hostee as they gain discoverability and possibility of new viewers.
    No one I have interacted with wants to see Hosting go.
    Hosting is something that is so ingrained in streamers now it will be a shock to see it go.

    LET US KEEP OUR HOSTING FEATURE THAT WE LOVE.

  • mdct commented  ·   ·  Report

    That would be my guess too.
    Alternative feedback: please be honest in your reasoning when telling your users why you're making a decision.

  • CleveTheLand commented  ·   ·  Report

    Today it was announced that the Host Mode will be leaving Oct 3 due to it, "being confusing for viewers".

    This feature is a way for streamers to still maintain their own communities, while helping the discoverability of other streamers. I can share multiple different channels throughout the day via hosting. Now with this feature going away I can only share 1. Unless suggested channels is going to show thumbnails or a live feed, I see very few clicking through for recommendations. Once again this is a blow to discoverability.

    Keep Host Mode.

    If you believe it is confusing, fix it, not remove it.

1 2 … 11 12 14