Twitch is currently hosting the Summer Drops Fest 2025, a major event running from late June through August that enables viewers to earn free in-game cosmetic items in titles such as Delta Force, Street Fighter 6, Pokémon, Xbox Game Pass, Apex Legends, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and many more just by watching specific streamers during the festival period[1][5]. For example, unique drops are available in games like The FINALS, World of Warcraft, and Arena Breakout Infinite by watching participating channels for a set amount of time[1].
On the product side, Twitch’s 2025 updates have introduced several significant changes for both viewers and streamers. Notably, picture-in-picture ads are being deployed to allow ads to run alongside live streams rather than interrupting the broadcast, improving the viewing experience and helping maintain viewer engagement[2]. Other new features include the rollout of Treasure Train, which lets viewers support their favorite creators with up to 35% off on Tier 1 subscription bundles, making channel support more accessible[2].
Perhaps most impactful, Twitch is expanding its monetization tools to nearly all streamers. Subscriptions and Bits, previously locked behind the Affiliate and Partner programs, are now available from day one, regardless of follower count or average viewers[3][4][6]. This move is designed to help more creators start earning revenue immediately and to encourage new users to build communities on the platform. Additionally, features like “Shared Hype Trains” and streamlined collaboration tools via the mobile app are now available, enabling creators to monetize group events and co-streams more effectively[4].
The moderation toolkit has also been enhanced, further empowering creators and community members to maintain healthy chats amid the platform’s ongoing competition with rivals like YouTube and Kick[6].
In streamer news, American YouTuber and IRL content creator IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr) is making his return to Twitch after a four-year hiatus due to a prior indefinite ban. His comeback coincides with a new European IRL tour, and his streams will be broadcast simultaneously on Twitch and YouTube from July 7, 2025[7].
References
- [1] Summer Drops Fest 2025 – Twitch Blog
- [2] Twitch 2025 Updates: Picture-in-Picture Ads & Highlight Limits
- [3] What’s Next in 2025: An Open Letter from Twitch CEO Dan Clancy
- [4] Twitch is letting more streamers access its monetization tools
- [5] Twitch Summer Drops Fest 2025 – every free item you can still unlock
- [6] How Twitch creators feel about the platform’s recent updates – Digiday
- [7] IShowSpeed will return to Twitch during the new Europe tour