Summary
Kick, the emerging live-streaming platform, has recently addressed growing concerns from its user base regarding delayed feature releases. As the platform continues to expand, some users have expressed frustration over the lag in rolling out promised features, crucial for enhancing the overall streaming experience.
Kick was officially launched in late 2022 with the primary goal of rivaling the leading streaming platform, Twitch. The platform’s strategy to attract streamers included offering more relaxed policies and higher payouts than Twitch, which proved successful. In its early days, Kick introduced several features to enhance the platform, such as adding chat replay on VODs and clips, as well as a download button for clips in August 2023. To address concerns about its lack of moderation,Kick later introduced a report button. Additionally, Kick implemented measures to combat view count manipulation and address issues related to follows and chatbots, ensuring a fairer and more transparent streaming environment.
However, in recent months, the pace of updates has noticeably slowed, prompting many users to question the reason behind this change. Addressing these concerns, Kick CEO Eddie Craven acknowledged that whileKick initially released updates rapidly, they have since altered their approach. Kick’s CTO Dave Lemphers elaborated on this strategy, explaining that a slower pace has led to fewer issues and a more stable platform. He believes in the principle of “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” ensuring the engineering teams deliver robust and ready-for-delivery features while maintaining a focus on stability.
Why Have Kick’s Feature Updates Slowed Down?
The statement goes to show that users can expect a more reliable and thoroughly tested platform, as Kick is prioritizing long-term stability and quality over the rapid release of features. It is also notable that, along with introducing new features,Kick has implemented several policy changesto improve the platform. In April 2023, new moderation policies were introduced to address sexual content, prohibiting users from wearing underwear, lingerie, or pasties, and from soliciting sexual activities in exchange for subscriptions or money.
While it remains to be seen which streaming platform will dominate the industry in the coming years, Kick appears to be making significant efforts to establish itself. The platform has already signed several prominent streamers, including xQc, Amouranth, Adin Ross, and Nickmercs.Twitch executives also commented on the competition with Kick, stating that Twitch welcomes this competition with enthusiasm. This suggests that Twitch views Kick as a serious contender, and overall, competition tends to be advantageous for users because it drives platforms to improve and offer better experiences.
