Video game broadcasting platform Twitch is beta-testing a new feature, “Cheering”, that lets viewers post chat messages with animated emotes (or “Bits”) they pay for with real money — and streamers will get a cut.
It’s another notable way for developers who stream on Twitch to earn a bit of money doing so, though it’s yet unclear how Twitch will split the revenue from Bits sales with the streamers who receive them via Cheers.
At least one Twitch streamer familiar with the program has noted on Twitter that “100% of bits go to streamers”, though when contacted by Gamasutra a Twitch representative stated that “we can’t comment on revenue-sharing specifics.”
Whatever the split may be, Bits seem likely to become another source of revenue for devs who broadcast on Twitch, alongside donations and subscriptions from viewers.
At least one developer, Vlambeer, has already used Twitch’s API to sell a game (in this case, Nuclear Throne) via the platform’s subscription tools.
