Twitch is testing a new UI layout to improve discoverability

Twitch is testing a new UI layout meant to improve discoverability, but the reaction so far has been mixed.

Currently, viewing the different categories of games on Twitch displays a grid view of various streams that need to be clicked on individually to view them.

The new tested version adds a video at the top that automatically plays when users click on the feed grid below, before choosing to join the stream or follow the streamer.

The chat for this stream is also displayed to the right of the video (and can be hidden) for viewing before joining.

Twitch staff has confirmed that ads will not play during this autoplay preview video. The video will last for about a minute before enticing viewers to click through to the stream.

Streamer Lowco has a snippet of the new UI in action, along with confirmation from Twitch that it’s ad-free.

The goal of this change is to improve discoverability, so viewers get a taste of a stream before watching it in full.

“It could totally change the viewing experience as a viewer, trying to find a new streamer to watch,” says Lowco. “If it’s a persistent change, I can only see that’s a good thing where you don’t have to commit to loading a stream. You don’t have to watch an ad. You can drop by and just get a taste of who you want to watch before you click on the stream and enter.”

However, other viewers are less happy with the potential change.

Safer reddituser Ilsyer wrote, “Every time I go to Twitch I don’t want to be ‘thrown’ into a random stream, that’s why I avoid the main Twitch page like the plague.”

A number of comments below also noted their displeasure with autoplay videos.

It’s unclear if and when this change will officially be made by Twitch.