4K 60fps is the premium tier of streaming output and is exclusively available on YouTube Live among major platforms. The bitrate range required puts this configuration out of reach for most consumer connections, which is part of why the format is rare even among working streamers.

The use case: streamers on enterprise-class fiber connections, streamers whose content has a strong visual component that 4K reveals (fine art, high-detail cosmetic streams, technical demos), and streamers whose audience analytics show a meaningful 4K-display viewership.

The bitrate range for 4K 60fps approaches the upper limit of what consumer streaming hardware can encode and what consumer connections can sustain. The calibrated range is calibrated assuming AV1 or HEVC encoding (H.264 cannot produce acceptable 4K image quality at sustainable bitrates).

The implementation: OBS canvas at 3840x2160, framerate at 60, AV1 encoder if available, bitrate at the calibrated value. The configuration is also CPU-and-GPU intensive on the encoding side. Most streamers will never need this configuration. Document it. Move on.