YouTube Creator Partnerships, Trovo Shutting Down, Turbo Gifting, + X 4x Paywalls XPro

Hello and welcome to the newsletter! Moving day for me, so I need to keep the intro incredibly short as I have to pack up this PC! I've spent a decade+ in this apartment; started my streaming journey, got into covering the creator space, and launched this newsletter (among dozens of other experiences and achievements, but those are the relevant ones to this newsletter!) I will miss this place, but I'm excited for the next chapter! And with that, let's get into it!

🟪 TWITCH

• Twitch is experimenting with a Gift Turbo button on user cards.
• Twitchcon Rotterdam 2026 tickets went on sale on March 27 at €125 for 2 days and €75 for 1 day. Prices increase by €10 on April 22. For the first five days of sales, you can save 10% with code WELCOMEBACK10.
• In light of major problems at Twitchcon San Diego 2025, Twitch says it will implement new safety measures at future Twitchcons. Those changes include stricter Meet & Greet requirements, Additional Security, and other procedures.
• Twitchcon is also addressing IRL streaming issues by implementing stricter rules for streaming. Paths must be kept clear, there will be additional no-streaming areas, and they are introducing a lanyard that signals your desire NOT to be filmed.

🟥 YOUTUBE

• YouTube was spotted testing a "Add Hearts to All" button that lets creators like every comment on their video.
• YouTube was spotted replacing the Play/Pause button with a Share button on embedded players.
• YouTube is lowering the eligibility criteria for creators to access the YouTube Shopping affiliate program. You can now gain access with 500 subscribers.
• YouTube is evolving its Creator Partnerships platform (formerly BrandConnect) to allow brands to search for creators and pitch them directly. Roberto Blake says that YouTube will not take a percentage of your brand deals.
• Jury finds Instagram and YouTube liable in landmark social media addiction trial. A tough one to figure out... Maybe they'll make these apps less addictive? Or will it result in even more age verification and content controls?

⬛ TIKTOK

• TikTok ads are about to get more disruptive as the platform is launching new ad formats, including one that co-brands the TikTok landing page.

🟦 OTHER STREAMERS

• Trovo has announced that it is shutting down its streaming service on June 30, 2026. It will instead focus on its gaming business. The service had originally launched as Madcat in March 2020.
• Discord shared its March 2026 changelog, which includes several updates to Desktop.
• Polymarket announced a partnership with Parti to bring prediction markets to livestreaming.
• Kick has updated its chat replies function to add hover previews.