TikTok is making a bold move to take on YouTube and Twitch with a major revamp of its desktop platform. The social media giant announced on Thursday that its web-based experience will feature a new modular layout, refreshed For You feed, a new Explore tab, immersive full-screen LIVE gaming streaming, and a floating player.

The redesigned desktop platform is designed to provide a more immersive and distraction-free viewing experience, similar to the mobile version of TikTok. The repositioned navigation bar allows users to focus on the content, making it easier to discover and engage with videos.

One of the most significant updates is the introduction of immersive full-screen LIVE gaming streaming. This feature allows game streamers to "go live" in portrait or landscape mode, catering to both desktop and mobile users. Desktop users will see a horizontal view, while mobile users can simply rotate their phones to view in horizontal mode. This move is a direct challenge to Twitch's and YouTube's dominance in the game streaming market.

TikTok is also introducing a new "Collections" feature, which enables users to organize their favorite videos into custom categories. This feature is similar to YouTube's "Playlists" feature, allowing users to save videos for later viewing. Users can create collections based on their interests, such as recipe videos or DIY tutorials, making it easier to find and revisit saved content.

Desktop users will also have access to a floating player exclusively on Google Chrome. This feature allows users to multitask while still watching content, with the flexible floating window keeping TikTok visible on top of other windows.

The in-app "Explore" page has also been brought to desktop, allowing users to view a curated collection of content based on their interests. This feature provides users with a personalized experience, making it easier to discover new content and creators.

Cody Puckett, Product Manager at TikTok, stated that the updates aim to bring the "handheld magic" of TikTok to desktop, providing an engaging experience with greater flexibility. The company remains committed to innovating for its community and ensuring the platform is accessible for all.

While TikTok is known as a mobile-first platform, it makes sense for the company to focus on improving the desktop viewing experience. With over a billion users worldwide, TikTok is poised to challenge YouTube and Twitch in the online video and gaming streaming markets.

The updates demonstrate TikTok's commitment to evolving and meeting the changing needs of its users. As the platform continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how these updates impact user engagement and the overall online video landscape.