“Hey everyone. My name is ZeRo and today I have some crazy news to share with you guys.”
That was how Super Smash Bros. Ultimate pro Gonzalo “ZeRo” Barrios started off his video outlining his decision to stream exclusively on Facebook Gaming.
While he stated that the move may shock a lot of his fans, ZeRo said there are many reasons he made the move. This includes not only collaborations with celebrities and other gamers, but taking part in many more charity streams. ZeRo noted that this move should “escalate” everything he does, since it will no longer be him “solo managing” everything.
His first stream is today, December 3, and will benefit a cause ZeRo said he really believes in: the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“Streaming is one of those unique things that changed my life forever,” ZeRo said. “It brought me closer to people that support me and to a whole community of people. It’s been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my entire life.”
To show his gratitude, ZeRo is giving out 400 free shirts to people who have been subscribed to him on Twitch for over a year. This is a way for him to show appreciation for the people who have been there for him, he said.
Many of the responses to ZeRo’s move to Facebook Gaming have been negative. The Smash community as a whole seemed to indicate that they were disappointed with the transition, with some even hinting that ZeRo cares more about money than his fans.
“I hope this was worth it, you probably just lost like 90% of your viewership, what a shame,” commented one YouTuber.
Others said “RIP” and told ZeRo that his streaming career was “going to die.”
One Twitter user responded to the news by saying, “At least now your name will match your viewers.”
ZeRo currently has over 500,000 followers on Twitch, where he usually plays Ultimate and other Switch titles like Pokemon Sword & Shield.
Other big name Twitch personalities have also made the move to Facebook Gaming recently, including Hearthstone streamer
DisguisedToast. Twitch superstars Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “shroud” Grzesiek have also left Twitch behind, but they chose competitor
Mixer
instead.
While the Smash community seems angered by ZeRo’s decision to leave Twitch, it appears that many larger streamers have felt leaving Twitch was the right move for one reason or another. There will most likely be many more to come in the following months.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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