Twitch
Twitch
Asmongold not impressed with Pokimane’s cookies or apology
Olivia Richman
World of Warcraft icon Asmongold has called out Imane “Pokimane” Anys for calling fans “broke” for not wanting to purchase her new cookies. Pokimane recently launched a new snack line focused on healthy cookies, but some fans felt they were being deceived by the content creator. Not only did they seem quite similar to an already existing snack brand but it basically is $7 per small bag. She responded to …
Twitch
Did Dream groom minors? Controversy explained
Olivia Richman
Minecraft icon Clay “Dream” has responded to groomer allegations, and the internet is torn. A few days ago, a burner account on Twitter shared some screenshots of Dream allegedly flirting with a teenage girl who he knowingly knew was around 16 years old. The anonymous person claimed Dream has a “history” of being “inappropriate with minors” for years. The screenshots and videos were from Dream’s Snapchat during a time when …
Twitch
Pokimane addresses Myna cookie drama, apologizes for “broke boy” comment
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch streamer Imane “Pokimane” Anys recently announced her new snack company, Myna, revealing midnight cookies as the first product. However, the initial reaction has been mixed, and the streamer has addressed the matter. Pokimane’s Myna cookies are being marketed as a healthy alternative to regular cookies. The gluten-free midnight cookies, however, are by no means a revolutionary snack. Earlier, fans accused Pokimane of selling a drop-shipped product, which she addressed …
Twitch
The Completionist accused of keeping $600K meant for charity
Olivia Richman
Gaming YouTuber Jirard “The Completionist” Khalil has been accused of holding back more than $600K in charity funds. The Completionist is known for his deep discussions on a wide range of video games as well as raising money for charity. In fact, he founded his own organization called The Open Hand Foundation focused on funding dementia research. Now, popular YouTubers are speaking out against The Completionist for allegedly not distributing …
Twitch
“They’re all gone”: FaZe Banks reveals plans for FaZe Clan
Olivia Richman
Is the hype returning to FaZe Clan? Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengtson has just revealed his plans for the esports organization now that he’s CEO. FaZe Clan has had a rough couple of years. Once seen as a powerful force in the space, it recently faced mass layoffs and was delisted from the Nasdaq stock exchange after it was revealed it wasn’t all that profitable after all. It was an unfortunate …
Twitch
“I don’t care”: MrBeast calls out haters
Olivia Richman
YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has called out haters for canceling him over his philanthropic videos. MrBeast is the largest YouTuber right now thanks to his over-the-top videos. While some are just crazy stunts like crashing a train into a ditch, many are massive charity efforts that have won MrBeast many supporters — and apparently haters. Related: MrBeast loses millions on latest YouTube video Recently, MrBeast paid to have over a …
Twitch
Is Dr Disrespect going to stream on X?
Olivia Richman
The speculation never ends with Herschel “Dr Disrespect” Beahm’s fanbase. Recently, his viewers wondered if he was planning to stream on Twitter, and Dr Disrespect has claimed he’d be willing, but only under certain conditions. The Two-Time is one of the most popular streamers in the world, recognizable for his over-the-top persona, mullet, and strong opinions on the gaming industry. After getting permanently banned from Twitch, Dr Disrespect turned to …
Twitch
Adin Ross forcibly removed from TwitchCon
Olivia Richman
Adin Ross has continued his path of controversy by attempting to crash TwitchCon, which didn’t work out. TwitchCon was held in Las Vegas this year, bringing all the biggest content creators to one place where they could interact with fans and participate in panels. Apparently, Ross wanted in on the attention and headed to Las Vegas with the intention of crashing TwitchCon. Adin Ross has very proudly switched to Kick, …
SSSniperwolf apologizes to JacksFilms for doxxing incident
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Alia “SSSniperwolf” Shelesh has finally apologized to John “JacksFilms” Douglass after getting temporarily demonetized on YouTube. Earlier this month, SSSniperwolf became the subject of mass controversy after she shared a photo of JacksFilms house on her Instagram Story. In the since-deleted Story, SSSniperwolf claimed she wanted to just “talk” to JacksFilms, who had been making YouTube videos criticizing her reaction content for being lazy and stolen. Big names in the …
xQc loses $820K betting on Logan Paul fight
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Avid gambler Felix “xQc” Lengyel just lost over $800,000 and is now accusing Dillon Danis of throwing the fight. Logan Paul has become one of the most popular attractions in combat sports, and his boxing match with Danis was one of the most anticipated fights of the year so far. The entertaining match resulted in Danis being disqualified when he attempted a double-leg takedown followed by a guillotine choke. Paul …
SSSniperwolf vs. Jacksfilms doxxing allegations explained
Olivia Richman
Twitch
The internet is in an uproar after popular reaction YouTuber Alia “SSSniperwolf” Shelesh allegedly doxxed content creator John “Jacksfilms” Douglass on her Instagram. SSSniperwolf has become famous over a variety of controversies the past few years, including being accused of extreme photo editing and faking video game content. Most recently, however, she has been under fire from Jacksfilms and other creators for her “lazy” reaction videos, with many accusing her …
What happened to Inquisitor Ghost on TikTok?
Olivia Richman
Twitch
A popular Call of Duty cosplayer and TikToker known as Inquisitor Ghost has allegedly taken his own life. The aftermath unfolded on a TikTok Live, leaving fans horrified and concerned. The cosplay community has been sharing emotional TikToks of Inquisitor Ghost after the cosplayer took his own life during a TikTok Live. Now fans want justice, claiming he was driven to end his own life over allegedly false grooming allegations. …
IShowSpeed has been unbanned on Twitch
Olivia Richman
Twitch
In a surprising twist, Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. has been allowed back on Twitch. Previously permabanned for sexist behavior, IShowSpeed is being given a second chance to stream on Twitch. IShowSpeed is known for his wild antics, including an accidental flashing incident that got him booted from YouTube for a bit and then recently almost passing out from a science experiment gone wrong. Despite his bad behavior, however, IShowSpeed is …
Drake FaceTimes Kai Cenat during livestream
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Drake just dropped an album and then dropped into Kai Cenat’s livestream. Kai Cenat has blown up over the past few years thanks to his subathon and over-the-top behavior. While he has definitely had his fair share of controversies — including arrests — it hasn’t stopped Cenat from becoming a massive success and being close to celebrities. Recently, Ice Spice, Offset, and other rappers have appeared on Cenat’s livestreams. This …
Deepfake MrBeast attempts to rip off fans
Olivia Richman
Twitch
A lot of fans are skeptical after Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson recently claimed a giveaway he was doing was actually a deepfake scam. Deepfake is nothing new in the online world. There are a lot of deepfake videos of celebrities and streamers, including entire TikTok accounts dedicated to the trend. While some deepfake is just used to be creative and wholesome, others have taken it too far. Recently, MrBeast claimed that …
How to stream games on X
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Elon Musk streamed on X, but can you? Yes, but it won’t be that easy. As X continues to struggle due to Musk’s erratic business choices and platform limitations, it’s now looking to reinvent itself as a place where you can now livestream to your followers. Recently, Musk streamed himself playing Diablo 4, and now others want to give it a try. Here is how to stream on X, formerly …
Adept gets her first Twitch ban, xQc responds
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Gaming streamer Sam “Adept” has received her first Twitch ban after allegedly doxing one of xQc’s moderators. Adept is a popular name in the gaming community for her Grand Theft Auto streams and ongoing drama with her ex, Félix “xQc” Lengyel. The pair broke up in 2022 for good, and the dust has failed to settle since then. In a drama that can’t seem to resolve, Adept recently accused xQc …
IShowSpeed’s failed experiment ends with medical emergency
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins has been rushed to medics again, but this time due to a failed science experiment. IShowSpeed is no stranger to ending up in a hospital bed due to his questionable antics. Previously, the streamer tried celebrating July 4th in his room with fireworks, which turned out exactly how everyone had imagined: in a disaster. This time, the streamer experimented with dangerous chemicals, filling his room with gas …
Elon Musk streams Diablo 4 to more than a million viewers
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
Elon Musk has taken a major step towards turning X into an “everything app” by streaming Diablo 4 for over 50 minutes. It’s no secret that the world’s richest man is a gamer at heart. Elon Musk’s love for Overwatch and Diablo 4 isn’t hidden from the world, and now the business tycoon is sharing it with his followers by streaming on his own social media platform, X. When Twitter …
MrBeast Samsung partnership sparks controversy
Olivia Richman
Twitch
YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” has found himself in some sponsorship controversy, but this time most of the streaming community is on his side. Recently, MrBeast announced a partnership with Samsung and would start using the Galaxy S23 Ultra as his vlog camera on his main channel. This is nothing new in the streaming community, with content creators getting paid partnerships all the time. But this time, a news article had MrBeast …
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.
