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Twitch has quietly rolled out a major update that lets viewers gift up to 1,000 subscriptions in a single purchase. The feature instantly took the internet by storm, not only because of the staggering price tag, but also because of how quickly streamers and viewers pushed back on what many see as yet another profit-first decision from the platform.

The change was first spotted on November 26, when users noticed a new option to drop 1,000 gifted subs for about five thousand dollars. For anyone wondering, yes, that is a real button, and yes, people are already pressing it.

A Massive New Gifting Option

Twitch previously capped bulk gifting at 200 subscriptions. Anyone who wanted to go beyond that had to buy in multiple batches, which was expensive and time consuming. Now, viewers can drop all 1,000 subs in one go, and Twitch has priced the bundle at 4,990 US dollars. According to esports.gg, that price actually saves buyers 1,000 dollars compared to gifting the same amount through five separate 200-sub purchases.

For everyday users the idea of spending thousands of dollars on digital subscriptions might sound outrageous, but high profile creators regularly see massive sub bombs during events and subathons. Twitch has now made those moments easier, although not everyone is celebrating.

Streamers Are Split

Soon after the update went live, streamer Emiru became one of the first to receive a 1,000-sub gift. Her reaction went viral as she stared at the notification in disbelief.

“I’m speechless. I don’t even know how to react,” she said on stream, noting that the feature did not even appear properly on her gifting leaderboard yet.

While some creators enjoyed the surprise, others immediately raised concerns, especially around safety and financial risk.

Streamer Lucia shared strong criticism, saying she “hates” the change for several reasons.


She explained that:

  1. Viewers could put themselves in serious financial trouble by spending that much money impulsively.
  2. Chargebacks are still a major issue, and Twitch offers little protection for streamers when they happen.
  3. Twitch takes between 30 and 50 percent of subscription revenue, raising questions about why the company wants even larger gifting limits.
  4. The platform has continued focusing on monetisation rather than fixing community issues or improving transparency.
  5. Streamers would prefer more features that promote healthy, long term engagement instead of encouraging massive spending spikes.

Many others agreed. One user wrote that the change feels like “legalised money laundering,” while another joked that nobody is gifting 1,000 subs “in this economy.”

Fears of Abuse and Money Laundering

Concerns around payment abuse grew quickly. Some pointed to past scandals, including the Turkish money laundering disaster that hit Twitch two years ago, where stolen payment methods were used to funnel money through gifted subs.

Users also speculated that Twitch may be trying to reduce transaction costs for massive subathons by encouraging large lump-sum purchases. One commenter suggested that combining thousands of dollars into a single transaction could save Twitch money on processing fees at scale.

Meanwhile, Kick users chimed in to say that similar changes on their platform made gifting more expensive and less accessible.

Why Gift Subs Matter

Gifted subscriptions have become a core part of Twitch culture. They unlock ad-free viewing, channel emotes, and support creators directly. Affiliates and Partners receive a revenue split from every sub, with some top streamers eligible for a 70 percent share.

The new 1,000-sub option technically makes gifting more efficient for big spenders, but many streamers fear it does little to help smaller creators or the community at large.

Quiet Release and No Official Statement

Despite the massive impact, Twitch has not yet acknowledged the feature on its social channels or support pages. The update appears to be live for all streamers globally, but the lack of communication only added to the confusion.

Some users see the new cap as harmless. Others think it opens the door to bigger problems. What is clear is that the community wants far more transparency, especially around financial safety and platform priorities.

Final Thoughts

Twitch’s new 1,000-sub gifting option might create big, flashy moments on stream, but it has already caused an equally big discussion across the internet. Streamers are worried about chargebacks, financial risk, and the platform’s ongoing focus on monetisation. Viewers are confused about who this feature is actually for.

Until Twitch addresses the change publicly, the community is left to speculate. For now, the button exists, and the internet is watching closely to see how it is used next.