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In an effort to create a more engaging experience for viewers, Twitch recently unveiled a new feature called Hype Chat.
Designed to mimic YouTube Live’s Super Chats, Hype Chat allows users to buy custom messages that get pinned at the top of the chat.
These messages, purchasable in each viewer’s own currency, offer a unique way for audiences to participate in streams.
However, since its roll-out, the feature has been plagued by a bug causing some major hiccups in certain currencies, leading to unintentionally large donations.
Unintentionally Large Donations Due to Hype Chat Bug
This bug first came into the limelight when a German streamer, acid_fired, posted a clip to Twitter showcasing the glitch in real-time.
In the clip, acid_fired attempts to make a donation of 1,21 € using the new Hype Chat feature. However, the system reads the amount as 121,00 €, a donation nearly 100 times more than intended.
The problem seems to lie in Hype Chat’s currency formatting. Many currencies worldwide, including the Euro, use a comma to differentiate monetary amounts, contrary to the period used in the US.
It appears that while Hype Chat visually displays the correct currency punctuation, it fails to recognize it during the transaction, leading to inflated donations.
Twitch Acknowledges and Acts on the Hype Chat Bug
Upon discovering the bug, members of Twitch’s staff promptly set about rectifying it.
Matt Long, the company’s Director of Product Management, confirmed that this issue was “obviously a bug” and assured users that a fix is underway.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from Twitch confirming the bug’s resolution.
Thus, caution is advised for users planning to utilize Hype Chat in currencies that use a comma as a decimal separator, such as the euro.
What This Means for Twitch Users
The ongoing issue with Hype Chat highlights the challenges that come with the implementation of new features, especially those involving monetary transactions across diverse global currencies.
As Twitch continues to work on a fix, users should stay vigilant and double-check their transactions when utilizing the Hype Chat feature.
It remains to be seen how quickly Twitch can address this issue, but the prompt acknowledgment and action towards a solution demonstrate the platform’s commitment to providing a smooth and secure streaming experience.
