Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X (formerly Twitter), has acknowledged the platform’s new streaming dashboard, signaling a potential expansion of its livestreaming capabilities.
The remark came in response to a post by content creator Jack Doherty regarding FaZe Clan’s move to the platform, with Nikita Bier stating:
“It’s time to stream. DM for early access to our new streaming dashboard.”
While X has yet to make an official announcement, the comment has fueled speculation across social media about a broader push into X Live, the platform’s livestreaming segment. Streams Charts has reached out to X for further comment.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, development has focused on creator-centric financial tools. This strategy includes the implementation of ad revenue sharing, viewer tips, and channel subscriptions. These updates align with the broader corporate objective of transforming the site into a multifunctional "everything app". Current interface testing indicates the development of a unified streaming dashboard designed to centralize backend controls and minimize the necessity for external management software.
Currently, live streaming functions as an integrated component of the platform, though the operational model has transitioned toward a subscription-based framework. As of mid-2024, the ability to host a live broadcast is restricted to users with Premium or Premium+ credentials. Despite this paywall for mobile users, the platform maintains support for professional-grade productions.
Live video on Twitter originates from the acquisition of Periscope in early 2015. Launched as a standalone mobile application, Periscope was one of the pioneers of real-time mobile broadcasting. By 2016, the parent company began embedding these capabilities directly into the primary interface, allowing users to start broadcasts without leaving their main feed.
The service underwent a significant structural change in March 2021 when the dedicated Periscope app was decommissioned. This decision followed a period of diminishing user engagement and rising infrastructure expenses. Consequently, the core streaming technology was fully migrated into the infrastructure of what is now X.
If X proceeds with expanding X Live and making livestreaming available to all users, it will enter an already highly concentrated market. As of Q1 2026, more than 95% of livestreaming viewership (outside mainland China) is distributed across four major platforms, with YouTube and TikTok accounting for the majority of total live content consumption.
Read more: Q1 2026 Global Livestreaming Landscape: TikTok declines by over 11% in viewership
This level of concentration leaves limited share for newer or smaller services. Even recently launched platforms have required extended periods to establish a stable user base. One example is Kick, which entered the market as an alternative to established live platforms and has grown its presence over several years, reaching approximately 5% of total livestreaming viewership as of 2026.
In this context, X would be operating within a mature and competitive environment. While the platform has an existing global user base and strong distribution through its social network, further expansion of livestreaming engagement would depend on its ability to compete with established platforms that already dominate both creator supply and audience attention.
