A "be right back" screen is an exit prompt. Here is what to put there instead.
Short answer
Keep viewers through a break by leaving something interactive running with a visible countdown, so the stream still rewards attention while you are away — a static BRB screen tells viewers it is safe to leave.
Why breaks cost so many viewers
A break is the clearest possible signal that nothing will happen for a while. Viewers who leave during breaks rarely return in the same session, and the drop shows up directly in average view duration.
The fix is not to avoid breaks — you need them — but to make the break itself watchable.
Always show a countdown
Uncertainty is what pushes people away. "Back in 4:32" with a ticking clock converts an unknown wait into a manageable one.
- State the exact return time, not "brb"
- Keep the countdown visible the whole break
- Come back slightly early if you can
Leave a game running
The strongest break screen is one where chat can still play. An automated round that continues without you means the stream never actually stops being interactive.
This also solves the awkward return: you come back mid-round with something to react to rather than into silence.
A break where chat is still scoring points is not really a break from the viewer's perspective — which is exactly the point.
Use breaks to reset energy
Schedule breaks deliberately at natural transitions rather than when you are exhausted. A planned break between segments feels like structure; an unplanned one feels like the show falling apart.
What not to do
Avoid anything that reads as "nothing is happening here".
Silent static screens, music-only breaks with no timer, and unannounced disappearances are the three fastest ways to end a viewing session.