Twitch testing new layout with username, stream title, viewer count, and timer at the top

Update 12/12/24: For those wondering where to drop your feedback for a chance to be heard among the dissenters, there’s a post on the Twitch UserVoice asking for the redesign to be reverted. Our bet is that this is the best option you got for now. As of this writing, the post already has 1,060 upvotes since going live on December 11.

Original article follows:

Twitch is at it again, folks. The streaming giant is quietly testing two experimental layouts for its desktop platform, and the reactions are as chaotic as what recently happened with the mobile app’s redesign. For the select few who’ve stumbled upon these changes, the results range from mild confusion to outright rage-quitting their browser tabs.

The main tweak? The username, stream title, timer, and tags have been moved to the top of the stream interface, along with other details like the channel profile picture and viewer count. Oh, and the Follow/Notification button? Depending on which version of the experiment you’ve landed in, it’s either chilling at the top or sticking with tradition at the bottom of the screen.

For a platform where every pixel is sacred, this seemingly small shuffle has sparked a big debate. The updated layout pushes the video feed further down the page, a move that some users say disrupts the natural flow of the interface. Others are lamenting the apparent “visual imbalance” it creates. Meanwhile, a few skeptical voices are questioning why Twitch is tinkering with a layout that nobody seemed to be complaining about.

But hey, this is Twitch we’re talking about. Experimentation is in their DNA — or so they’d probably say if questioned about the chaos. A closer look at the two new layouts reveals that Twitch might be aiming for a bit of “mobile parity.” In plain English: making the desktop interface more like its mobile app. Whether this is a stroke of genius or a misguided move remains to be seen.

Now, let’s talk reactions. Across social media platforms like Reddit and X, the feedback is rolling in, and let’s just say it’s… colorful. Users are calling the new layout unnecessary, off-putting, and a bizarre design choice that feels like change for the sake of change. Some think it’s a bug while others have declared outright hatred for the experiment, noting that it makes Twitch feel visually cluttered compared to other video platforms. One particularly dramatic take? It’s all part of a yearly ritual where Twitch “changes things for no reason.”

But there’s a twist. For those savvy enough to use the FrankerFaceZ browser extension, there’s a temporary workaround to revert back to the classic layout. By diving into the FFZ Control Panel and toggling a few settings, users can restore their beloved “below-the-player” format. Consider it a small win for the resistance.

This experiment comes on the heels of several other updates from Twitch, including its new shared viewership features rolled out last week. And let’s not forget the platform’s recent PR struggles, from backlash over its mobile app redesign to deeper concerns about brand safety and ad revenue drops. It’s been a rough few months for Twitch, and these UI experiments are unlikely to help the platform regain user trust.

So, what’s next? If history is any guide, Twitch will either quietly roll these changes out to everyone or scrap them entirely and pretend it never happened. Either way, one thing is clear: when it comes to redesigns, you can’t please everyone.