Twitch is removing host mode and absolutely nobody understands why

pcgamer.com:

In a move that's baffling streamers and viewers alike, Twitch is removing the ability to host other streams in early October.

The feature, originally introduced in 2014, allows streamers to direct viewers to another Twitch personality's livestream while they're offline. It's a neat way for streamers to highlight friends and other creators while they're not streaming themselves, providing a use for someone's main page when they're not around. But bizarrely, Twitch is now claiming that host mode «blocks» viewers from being able to interact with streamers in a post announcing the feature's departure on October 3, 2022.

«We made the decision to deprecate this feature because the experience it delivers to viewers doesn't match their expectations when they come to Twitch,» the news read(opens in new tab). «Viewers want to interact with a streamer when they're live and host mode blocks this from happening. Preventing viewers from interacting with the streamer they're watching also limits a streamer's growth potential because they're not able to build meaningful connections with those new viewers.»

Twitch is removing hosting other channels and it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. So when I’m Offline i can’t even have my viewers enjoy watching my friends who are live?? Such an L pic.twitter.com/W6ewkdW7vVSeptember 6, 2022

The reasoning feels a little confusing when you consider that host mode only works when the streamer's main page is offline, as well as it being pretty easy to click on the hosted stream to begin talking and interacting with the streamer. I'm not the only one perturbed by it, with numerous streamers taking to Twitter to simply ask: why? CriticalBard(opens in new tab) called the decision «highly unnecessary,»