Twitch
Twitch
All we know about Thea Booysen, MrBeast’s girlfriend
William Davis
Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is known purely for his YouTube content and philanthropic efforts, keeping his private life away from the public eye. But fans are curious about his girlfriend, Thea Booysen. MrBeast, now the owner of the world’s most-subscribed YouTube channel, has been creating content since 2012. He is known for giving thousands of dollars to good causes, holding competitions, and organizing fundraisers. However, not much is known about his …
Twitch
Norme leaves YouTube concerned after not sleeping for over 250 hours on livestream
Fariha Bhatti
Norme has been banned on two top streaming platforms out of three for staying awake for over 250 hours. Streamers do all sorts of marathons to boost viewership on their broadcasts. However, only a few qualify as dangerous. Most recently, iShowSpeed got banned on YouTube for pulling off a risky stunt of jumping over two speeding cars. Now, a streamer known as Norme has been banned on YouTube, and then …
Twitch
Is iShowSpeed returning to Twitch? Here’s what we know
Fariha Bhatti
Rumors of iShowSpeed’s alleged move to Twitch have been circulating wildly, but how much truth is behind them? iShowSpeed is known for his over-the-top stunts and unique personalities. Some foreigners know him for his impeccable barking skills, which she showcased during his Europe tour. However, he recently started making global headlines for a jaw-dropping stunt of jumping over speeding cars. While it was an impressive feat, it landed him into …
Twitch
Fuslie addresses NoahJ456 cheating allegations, breaks down in tears
Fariha Bhatti
Leslie “Leslie” Fu has addressed the cheating allegations levied against her by YouTuber MrTLexify. The streamer has confirmed having an “emotional affair” with NoahJ456. On August 8, YouTuber MrTLexify posted a lengthy video titled “My Ex,” in which he responded to the allegations of grooming and SA made against him by his ex-girlfriend Reagan McNulty. After sharing screenshots revealing his side of the story, MrTLexify called out his fake friends …
Twitch
Have AikoBliss and xQc broken up?
Fariha Bhatti
AikoBliss and Félix “xQc” Lengyel’s relationship has been under the public microscope since AikoBliss made it official on June 13. Now fans suspect that the two may have broken up. xQc has had tumultuous past relationships, at least those out in public. Throughout the time he dated Samantha “Adept” Lopez, the two were in the headlines for drama over property and sometimes their relationship status. They broke up in September 2022, …
Twitch
Who won Pokimane gaming session at CDawgVA charity auction?
Fariha Bhatti
On July 19, streamer and voice actor Connor “CDawgVA” Colquhoun hosted his charity auction in Los Angeles. One VTuber has won the most bidding, including a gaming session with Imane “Pokimane” Anys, donating 68,200 to IDF. CDawgVA is a voice actor, but he’s popular in the streaming community for hosting various charity events to raise funds for the Immune Deficiency Foundation. In July, he announced a new fundraiser for IDF, …
Twitch
Adin Ross wants to return to Twitch, but there’s a problem
Fariha Bhatti
Adin Ross may be returning to Twitch if he ever manages to get unbanned. When Kick entered the picture as Twitch’s rival in the streaming business in 2022, Adin Ross was one of the first streamers to jump ship. He wasn’t banned from Twitch at that time. Instead, he voluntarily switched to another platform. However, this move was quickly followed by his eighth ban from Twitch, which Adin claims was …
Twitch
Ibai sets new Twitch record for the third consecutive year
Fariha Bhatti
Ibai Llanos Garatea’s La Velada Del Ano 4 has shattered all previous Twitch viewership records in a power-packed stream featuring European streamers and a cameo by Will Smith. Ibai has been hosting an annual boxing competition called “The Night of the Year” in English since 2021. Every year, the streamer manages to set a new viewership record, making it almost like a tradition. His event La Velada last year helped …
What’s the Darla and FaZe Lacy controversy?
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Two weeks after announcing his girlfriend Darla Claire’s pregnancy, FaZe Clan member and streamer Nick “LucyHimself” Fosco has found that she had been cheating on him. Earlier in July, LacyHimself announced that he may have to move out from FaZe Clan and quit streaming to “step up” after his girlfriend’s pregnancy. LacyHimself is still fairly new to FaZe Clan, having joined the content house in May after a series of …
SteveWillDoIt responds to the funny mugshot from Universal Studios’ arrest
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Content creator Stephan “SteveWillDoIt” Deleonardi has pulled all sorts of stunts, but his most recent one landed him in a jail cell. Known for his over-the-top challenges, pranks, and social experiments, Stevewilldoit has managed to evade trouble despite his borderline risky content. He was, however, banned from YouTube for “severe or repeated violations,” likely because he mentioned the gambling site Stake’s web address in a YouTube video. Now, he has …
MrBeast hits 300M YouTube subscribers, reveals biggest video ever to celebrate
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is now the first YouTuber to hit 300 million subscribers on YouTube, and he’s celebrating it with the top 50 creators worldwide. After a long battle with Indian content and music company T-Series, MrBeast recently became the most subscribed channel on YouTube. He edged past the Indian giant with a few million more subscribers early in June, earning the respectable title. Now, he has set a new …
Pokimane reveals she was in serious relationship
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Influencer Imane “Pokimane” Anys has surprisingly opened up about a recent breakup after vowing to never speak about her relationships with fans. Pokimane is the most-subscribed female content creator on Twitch. She started as a game streamer but after some breaks decided that she wants to become more of a general content creator instead of grinding streams all day. This has led to her making YouTube vlogs, recording podcasts, and …
Sketch addresses LGBTQ+ OnlyFans rumors
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Popular streamer Kylie “Sketch” Cox has been dealing with backlash after images of him having sexual relations with another man were leaked online. Sketch decided to address the controversy on a recent stream. Known for spreading the term “what’s up, brother” to mainstream sports media, Sketch has been losing some fans after admitting to being involved with another man. The viral sports game streamer decided to come clean about some …
Is MrBeast going to run for president in 2024?
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Once more, Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is contemplating running for president. It’s no secret that US politics have been quite controversial. The presidential debate had many questioning both presidential hopefuls in terms of their mental capacity and concerning rhetoric. Some are wondering if there are any better candidates and now there may be an alternative. On X, MrBeast has decided to express interest in running for president again. But can he? …
Was Kai Cenat’s fireworks stream staged?
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Kai Cenat celebrated July 4 like he does every year, with over-the-top indoor fireworks. But fans think this year Kai Cenat’s fireworks stream was most likely staged. Kai Cenat’s July 4 stream called Firework Wars featured Jimmy “Mr Beast” Donaldson, so it was already set to be one of his biggest livestreams. However, clips from the stream are now making the rounds for an entirely different reason. Apparently, Kai Cenat’s …
Tfue may join FaZe Clan again after contract dispute
Olivia Richman
Twitch
FaZe Clan has new ownership and a new vision. Is Fortnite streamer Tfue part of that vision? FaZe Clan is under new ownership and with that has come the return of OG leaders like FaZe Banks. Fans have noticed a lot of new content creator-based signings and series rather than a focus on just esports. Is part of the new strategy going to involve former FaZe member Turner “Tfue” Tenney? …
Twitch Rolls the Dice: Integrating licensed casino content into streaming
William Davis
Twitch
In a move that could reshape the landscape of live gaming, Twitch, the video streaming giant, has announced plans to allow the streaming of licensed online casino content. This strategic shift comes as Twitch aims to maintain its dominant position in the streaming market while navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by online gambling. Twitch’s decision to stream licensed online casino content marks a strategic shift aimed at innovation within …
xQc admits he makes up to $2 million a year from Twitch ads
Olivia Richman
Twitch
It’s no surprise that Twitch users can’t stand the amount of ads that have taken over the streaming platform. But former FPS pro turned top content creator Felix “xQc” Lengyel has revealed the reason he won’t stop running ads anytime soon. On a recent stream, xQc admitted that he would lose a lot of money if he stopped running ads on his streams. During a recent livestream, a fan asked …
Was Dr Disrespect arrested for sexting a minor?
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Herschel “Dr Disrespect” Beahm recently confirmed that he was banned on Twitch for sexting with a minor, but has he been arrested for it? Ever since Dr Disrespect posted his extensive response to the allegations of sexting an underaged individual, it has sparked a lot of chaos. YouTube has fully demonetized his channel and he has been removed from NBA 2K24 as well. This is hot off the heels of …
Why was Nickmercs banned from Twitch?
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Popular Twitch streamer Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff has been banned on Twitch for the first time since he started streaming in 2010. Nickmercs, who’s often at the center of controversy for slamming LGBTQ community and transgender people, has now found himself in hot waters. On June 28, StreamerBans reported that his Twitch account had been suspended indefinitely. Taking to X, Nickmercs has responded to the ban, revealing the real reason. While …
Twitch is the largest of all the major livestreaming platforms in and around the gaming world, but it wasn’t always that way. Th platform’s history dates back over many years and to a form of the service that had little to do with gaming. So how did it arrive to the top of the gaming marketplace from those humble beginnings?
Twitch transcends justin.tv, is acquired by Amazon
Twitch was originally born out of justin.tv, an early livestreaming website that focus more on general lifestyle streaming than on any one particular niche, gaming included. justin.tv, named after co-founder Justin Kan, was launched in 2007 and went on to feature multiple categories of streaming options. Among these was gaming, a category which quickly outpaced the growth of platform’s other categories.
Responding to this growth, justin.tv spun out its gaming section in 2011 into a new service called Twitch.tv, and that is the true starting point of Twitch as it exists today.
It would still be some time before Twitch would resemble its modern-day operation. The biggest move towards that progression came in 2014, when the streaming platform was purchased for just shy of $1 billion in cash by services and technology giant Amazon. That move transitioned the company being a private operation largely funded by private investment and internal revenues to one of many arms of one of the world’s largest and richest companies.
Twitch dominates gaming livestreaming
The growth of Twitch largely coincided with the growth of livestreaming the world over, and gaming was a key driver of that growth as audiences flocked in droves to watch charismatic personalities play through their favorite games both new and old. Some of those personalities would become so popular that they would rival mainstream celebrities in notoriety with younger audiences, from Tyler “Ninja” Blevins to Imane “Pokimane” Anys.
Some of those personalities would be poached by rival streaming platforms that cropped up in response to the runaway popularity of Twitch. Microsoft’s Mixer and YouTube’s YouTube Gaming both signed streamers with massive audiences to exclusive streaming deals via big-money contracts. But Twitch proved resilient; no matter how popular the streamers were when they were signed away, someone else seemed prime to fill their spot. Twitch had become more than just a vehicle through which popular personalities could stream. It was itself a destination for its audience.
Twitch does still continue to compete with rival platforms. Kick is perhaps its biggest competition today, offering generous
subscription revenue splits
in an effort to sway streamers away from Twitch. But Amazon’s platform remains the most popular.
Twitch finds controversy over moderation, censorship
Given the nature of the Twitch platform, one that is entirely reliant on user-generated content, it should come as no surprise that moderation and censorship have long been hot topics of conversation. Consistency, or lack thereof, is often cited as Twitch’s biggest issue as its moderation team struggles to pass judgments across a litany of streamers producing a great variety of content.
Those content types have only grown over time. While Twitch found massive popularity by moving away from the greater variety of justin.tv and focusing specifically on gaming, the platform has ironically pushed back into other categories in more recent years, attempting to find additional growth by emphasizing the streaming of art, music, and its popular “just chatting” content that sees streamers talking directly to their audience without any particular activity driving their engagement.
But while Twitch is now a lightning rod for controversy and discussion given its great size and breadth, that controversy has shown no real risk to lessening its grip on the livestreaming industry. Twitch has become the dominant name in its category, and with its biggest streamers continuing to
set new records, all signs point to that dominance continuing for the foreseeable future.
