Twitch is raising US subscription prices for the first time

Twitch is becoming a member of Spotify, Max, Peacock, Crunchyroll, EA and different content material providers in everybody’s favourite company pattern of elevating subscription costs (virtually as enjoyable because the parallel pattern of Big Tech layoffs). The Amazon-owned firm said on Tuesday that Twitch Tier 1 subscriptions within the US will improve from $4.99 to $5.99 on July 11. That is the primary time the month-to-month price has gone up for American subscribers.

“As a part of our efforts to assist creators construct and develop their communities worldwide, the next international locations acquired subscription value changes as part of Native Subscription Pricing,” the corporate wrote in a help article.

In a separate X reply, the corporate clarified that streamers will nonetheless earn the identical 50 to 70 % via Twitch’s revenue-sharing program, so they are going to earn extra per subscription (doubtless the rationalization for the questionable “It’s for the creators!” framing). Nonetheless, streamers’ incomes further income will depend on Twitch’s subscriber numbers staying the identical or growing. An unpopular value hike may result in a lack of paying subscribers if sufficient folks shirk the rise.

Twitch had warned at the present time would come. When the corporate raised subscription prices in Canada, Australia, Turkey and the UK in February, Chief Monetization Officer Mike Minton added {that a} US subscription improve would “in all probability” arrive someday this 12 months. And right here we’re.

The corporate has had a tough 2024, and we aren’t even on the midway level. Twitch laid off a reported 500 employees in January to “reduce prices” and “construct a extra sustainable enterprise” as CEO Dan Clancy admitted the corporate wasn’t worthwhile. For good measure, it cut how much creators earn from Prime subscriptions. Then, late final month, it removed every member of its Safety Advisory Council, changing them with “Twitch Ambassadors,” which sounds an terrible lot like group volunteers.