Mark Minton, Chief Product Officer at Twitch, sat down with us at TwitchCon Europe 2026 in Rotterdam to discuss the platform's future, creator needs, and the highly anticipated launch of GTA 6. Over 15,000 attendees gathered at the Ahoy convention centre, showcasing Twitch's enduring dominance in livestreaming.
TwitchCon's Unique Community Focus
Minton highlighted what sets TwitchCon apart: "The focus on the community. Seeing a moderator who's been with a streamer for six years finally meet them in person—that's special." The event featured a massive Minecraft activation with exclusive in-game items and pre-release Lego sets, alongside major announcements like dual-format streaming, expanded 2K (1440p) support, and stream summaries.
New Features and Creator Empowerment
Keynote announcements included official Giphy integration and enhanced creator sponsorships, aiming to triple opportunities this year. Minton noted, "The applause for Giphy was incredible—we knew it would be fun, but the reaction confirmed it." He emphasized the challenge of prioritizing features: "The idea list is long. We need to focus on what has the biggest impact for creators."
Adapting to Changing Viewer Habits
Minton observed a shift: "Creators now use Twitch to build audiences, then repurpose content for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The most successful ones leverage all platforms to create a flywheel back to their livestream." He added that improving the living room experience is next on the list, alongside faster feature rollouts.
GTA 6 Preparation
With GTA 6 expected in November, Minton assured readiness: "We're actively planning for traffic, engagement, potential partnerships with Rockstar, and advertising solutions. Historical data from GTA 5 and roleplay trends give us a good baseline. We want to ensure creators can monetize during the launch."
Future TwitchCon Locations
After three years in Rotterdam, TwitchCon Europe will move to Berlin in 2027. Minton recalled the first EU TwitchCon in Berlin in 2019: "I'm excited to return. European cities have great transport, and it's good to rotate venues."
Minton concluded: "Our priority is making Twitch fast, entertaining, and valuable for both creators and viewers. We're committed to pushing out more improvements faster."
