X is rolling out a major upgrade to video playback on iOS, introducing a full-screen immersive player designed to replace the platform’s long-criticized video interface. The update was announced by X’s Head of Product Nikita Bier on Monday.
“We’re rolling out a few updates to video this week. We’re starting with a new immersive video player, which badly needed a refresh. Available on iOS today.”
— Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X
What’s New
The redesigned player features a sleek, full-screen layout with overlaid engagement metrics (likes, retweets, replies) visible during playback — a design clearly influenced by TikTok and Instagram Reels. The interface includes intuitive playback controls, volume toggle, expand/minimize buttons, and a progress bar, all rendered over the video content rather than in a separate chrome.
Bier’s phrasing — “a few updates to video this week” — signals this is the first in a series of video-related changes, suggesting X is making a broader push to compete in the short-form and mid-form video space.
Why It Matters
Video has been X’s weakest product surface since the Twitter era. While competitors like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels invested heavily in native video experiences, X’s player remained largely unchanged — clunky, often buggy, and lacking the polish users expected from a platform with hundreds of millions of users.
The timing is notable: X suffered a major global outage earlier today, its second in a month. Rolling out a polished product update the same day signals the platform is trying to shift the narrative from infrastructure instability to product momentum.
The update is available on iOS today. No timeline was given for Android.
⚡ Why it matters: X is finally addressing its weakest product area — video — with a TikTok-inspired immersive player, signaling a broader push to compete for creator and viewer attention.
📊 By the numbers:
- iOS-first rollout, Android TBD
- Multiple video updates planned this week
- 2nd major outage + product launch in same day
🔗 Source: Nikita Bier on X
