Kick eliminates OBS requirement with browser-based native desktop streaming

By removing the steep learning curve of external encoders, Kick is positioning itself to capture casual creators who find OBS or XSplit too complex. This move effectively lowers the barrier to entry below that of Twitch, which still requires third-party software for professional-quality desktop broadcasts. As the industry moves toward frictionless 'one-click' streaming, this infrastructure shift suggests a prioritize-growth strategy over technical perfection. Watch for whether Twitch responds with its own native browser-based encoder or if Kick's 100 million user base sees a spike in short-form, low-production-value content following this deployment.

Kick's push for technical accessibility follows a series of significant 2026 infrastructure pivots. Per Streams Charts in April 2026, Kick successfully crossed the 100 million registered user milestone, although co-founder Bijan Tehrani concurrently acknowledged that early versions of the platform were rushed to market with what he described as "weak plumbing" and unreliable streaming delivery. To rectify these legacy stability issues, the platform's road map for late 2026 includes a full rebuild of its mobile application and the deployment of its "V1 discovery algorithm" to roughly 10% of the user base, according to statements made by Tehrani in May 2026.

While Twitch remains the market leader with approximately 140 million monthly active users, its growth has remained largely flat since 2023, per analyst reports in May 2026. Kick has attempted to capitalize on this stagnation by maintaining its 95/5 revenue split, contrasting with Twitch's standard 50/50 division. Furthermore, per Clypse.ai in June 2026, Kick has expanded its technical limits to support bitrates up to 8,000 kbps for 1080p60 content, outperforming Twitch's standard recommendation of 6,000 kbps. The focus has shifted from high-cost exclusive creator contracts to improving platform economics and reducing technical friction for the broader partner program.