Twitch details premium subscription plans

Twitch is expanding on its current subscription service by offering two higher-priced options for viewers.

Launching initially as an opt-in beta, the new $9.99 and $24.99 subscriptions will allow "communities to support their favourite partnered streamers" and unlock various rewards in the process.

These additional tiers will also play into Twitch's revamped emote system, whereby streamers can unlock new emotes for their viewers to use based on how many subscribers they have. A $9.99 subscriber counts as two subs for the streamer, while $24.99 counts as six.

Twitch Partners will be also able to give viewers access to additional emotes, although the streaming firm says this is optional and depends on the channel hosts.

The introduction of premium subscriptions is part of several new changes Twitch is making to its service. Later this year, for example, it will be introducing the ability for users to gift a paid channel subscription to another non-subbed user.

The $4.99 subscription will remain in place. It's not specified how much revenue from the $9.99 and $24.99 subscriptions will go to the streamer, or whether Twitch will take a cut. There is more information for both viewers and streamers at Twitch's website.