The combination of gamers trying to get free access to the hottest esport going and streamers attempting to maximize viewership has led Twitch to change its rules regarding live drops. The streaming service announced yesterday on its social media channels that new guideline bans streams running 24 hours a day and labeling themselves as being live for the purposes of drawing in viewers looking to receive beta keys to be cheating, and therefore are prohibited. This comes as a direct response to streamers currently part of the closed beta for Valorant?Riot?s 5-on-5 PC shooter meant to take on the likes of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch?and its promotion of handing out random beta keys to viewers who tune into streams showing the game. The new restrictions will have an effect on other games with drops, such as Rocket League, Rainbow Six: Siege, and more.
We?ve heard concerns about creators continuously streaming VODs while tagging the channel as ?Live? to farm Valorant Drops. This harms the integrity of our Drops Program so we?ve updated our Community Guidelines to clarify that cheating any Twitch rewards system is prohibited.
? Twitch Support (@TwitchSupport) April 28, 2020

The massive flood of viewers attempting to get a free beta key to Valorant led to record viewership numbers for Twitch, with over 1.7 million concurrent viewers tuning into streams of the game on its first day. Much like the California gold rush, this led to the big streamers all fighting ...