Just recently, we reported that Twitch had rolled out a long-awaited redesign of its mobile app, but many users are already unhappy with the update...
Why do most people want the old version back? It seems that new isn’t always better, even though there were high hopes for the redesign.
For instance, instead of displaying a list of creators, the Twitch app now shows a personalized feed of live streams based on the user's interests, similar to TikTok. Additionally, using the list of streamers that the user follows, Twitch now adds similar recommendations.
But less than a week after the app’s launch, many users took to social media to post a slew of negative comments about the redesign! What’s more, some are even demanding that Twitch revert to the original version of the app.
So, what’s the big issue? Users are frustrated with the autoplay feature, the TikTok-like interface, and the pushy recommendations.
Some have noted that the “picture-in-picture” mode pauses when returning to the home screen, making it harder to browse for new streams while watching something else. Also, the ability to browse favorite games and categories has been removed, making it more difficult to find specific streamers. Moreover, many users don’t want to follow every streamer right away (preferring to find them later). But now, without a watch history, if a user didn’t follow in time, how can they find that new streamer again?
As a result, none of these changes encourage viewers to engage with new streamers or come back to find them. Essentially, it’s turned into a doomscrolling experience through irrelevant streams.
These are the main complaints found on social media. But is everything really that bad? Maybe not. Some users have defended the innovation, with appreciating the simplicity of navigating the updated Twitch Mobile App.
What the platform will do next is anyone's guess. In any case, Twitch’s leadership, including CEO Dan Clancy, has stated that their goal was to make the app more convenient and useful for users. Hopefully, after considering the feedback, the company will make the right decision...
