Twitch
Twitch
AI xQc gains 1500 live viewers, here’s why
Fariha Bhatti
There’s an AI Félix “xQc” Lengyel online that viewers prefer to watch because it’s easier to understand. xQc is known for his hilarious reactions, terrible skills in CSGO, and epic GTA role-play. Despite being a streaming icon, fans barely understand what xQc is saying half the time, but they still watch. He talks too fast and often mixes up his words. This is something he’s also realized recently while watching …
Twitch
Dr Disrespect pulls $16,000 knife in CSGO
Olivia Richman
YouTube streamer Herschel “Dr Disrespect” Beahm has finally unboxed a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive knife — and it’s a goodie. Content creators have been rushing to CSGO to stream matches and gamble on skins ahead of Counter-Strike 2’s launch. One of those influencers is Dr Disrespect — the man, the mullet, the mustache. He has been on a long search for a knife, gambling a hefty amount of money to get …
Twitch
What are NPC streams, the new trend on TikTok Live?
William Davis
NPC Streamers on TikTok Live is the most recent trend taking the internet by storm. While it might be difficult to understand at first and just recently became mainstream, this type of content is not new. If you see your favorite content creator live on TikTok repeating phrases like “Ice cream so good” and “Gang gang”, don’t be surprised. This is the most recent trend that is taking over social …
Twitch
Who is PinkyDoll? The NPC stream girl on TikTok
Fariha Bhatti
The NPC stream girl PinkyDoll may seem bizarre to some, but a good chunk of viewers on TikTok are sending her real money for the unique content. If you use any form of social media, you’ve likely come across clips of the NPC stream girl repeating “Ice cream so good” in a cutesy voice. Fedha “PinkyDoll” Sinon pioneered what we know now as the “NPC (non-playable character) stream” on TikTok. …
Twitch
MrBeast loses millions on latest YouTube video
Olivia Richman
YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is known for his extravagant videos and his sizeable net worth. But he shocked fans when he revealed exactly how much he earns from ad revenue on YouTube. MrBeast has recently created a ton of high-production videos that have cost him millions, including recreating Squid Games and, most recently, crashing trains and other vehicles to do some of the most “insane experiments of all time.” The …
Twitch
Kai Cenat reveals plans after streaming, leaving fans shocked
Olivia Richman
Kai Cenat recently discussed his career plans after streaming, and some fans may be surprised. Cenat has become one of the largest streamers on Twitch. He beat all types of subscriber records after his controversial subathon and has gone on to keep making comedy and IRL content for viewers. Despite his massive success, Cenat is already looking at possibilities for life after streaming. The boisterous streamer recently appeared on the …
Twitch
Hershey’s might be threatened by MrBeast Festables chocolate
Olivia Richman
Hershey’s may be threatened by Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson’s Feastables chocolate bar line. MrBeast is known for his massive presence on YouTube, where he creates larger-than-life videos that change lives. But he has also used his giant net worth for a variety of other endeavors, including his fast food restaurant and Feastables chocolate bars. While MrBeast has since announced that he’s probably moving away from his burger business, it seems like …
Twitch
PewDiePie and Marzia announce the birth of their first child
Olivia Richman
YouTuber Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg is now officially a father. PewDiePie and wife Marzia welcomed a baby boy earlier today. He posted pictures of his newborn son on Instagram after sharing updates throughout her pregnancy. When the due date became closer, PewDiePie took a break from posting on YouTube. The famous YouTuber first revealed the pregnancy in February 2023. In the video, PewDiePie told fans he had been “keeping a secret” …
“Constant state of paranoia”: Dream on return of the mask
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Minecraft streamer Dream recently took back his infamous face reveal and is now donning the mask again. But in a recent interview, Dream said he doesn’t regret showing the world his face. Dream is known for his Minecraft speed runs (as well as cheating allegations) but he is just as well known for his smiley face mask. In the fall of 2022 after much teasing, Dream finally showed the world …
YouTube star RiceGum signs with Rumble over Kick
Fariha Bhatti
Twitch
YouTuber star Bryan “RiceGum” Quang Le has found a home at Rumble, meaning the rapper is formally entering the world of live streaming. RiceGum is primarily known for his beef and controversies with other creators, often leading to viral diss tracks. The unforgettable Jake Paul vs. RiceGum drama birthed many iconic diss tracks that fans still obsess over. Now, the YouTuber is switching lanes, entering the streaming world with a …
iDubbbz admits Creator Clash 2 lost money
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Former controversial YouTuber Ian “iDubbbz” Washburn left his Content Cop identity behind to pursue more positive content concepts, including the popular Creator Clash series. But iDubbbz recently admitted that the Creator Clash 2 didn’t go quite as planned — and he took responsibility for what went wrong. Earlier this week, iDubbbz shared a video called “The Harsh Reality of Creator Clash 2,” where he said he was going to share …
MrBeast asks Jeff Bezos for a billion dollars, gets response
Olivia Richman
Twitch
YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is known for his massive giveaways and charitable endeavors, but he recently asked someone else for a handout for once. On Twitter earlier this week, MrBeast reached out to Jeff Bezos with a small request. He tweeted: “Today feels like a great day for Jeff Bezos to give me a billion dollars for fun.” At first, it seemed like a harmless jab at one of the …
Amouranth says she wouldn’t mind if her daughter did OnlyFans
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Even though Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa has been slowly backing away from adult content, she recently stated that she wouldn’t mind if her own children made an OnlyFans. Amouranth is one of the most successful OnlyFans models in the world, making millions every single month. However, her business is a little empire that includes a lot more. She has recently branched out into other professional opportunities, including streaming on Kick, a …
Markiplier explains why he was in hospital with red eyes
Olivia Richman
Twitch
YouTuber Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach left fans worried when he posted a shocking selfie in the hospital on his birthday. Long-time YouTube star Markiplier currently has over 35 million subscribers who follow him for his video game content and candid personality. But his most recent YouTube video had fans shocked when they saw him laying in the hospital with extremely red eyes. Markiplier has returned to uploading videos after spending some …
Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed swarmed by fans after address leak
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Kai Cenat and Darren “IShowSpeed” Watkins recently leaked their own address, leading to an invasion of fans. Popular streamers Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed have been collaborating a lot lately, including their own livestreamed show called The Kai ‘N Speed Show on Rumble. Right now, the show is scheduled to stream three times a month, getting hundreds of thousands of viewers. The latest episode started off with a bang — but …
Here’s how the new Hype Chat feature works on Twitch
William Davis
Twitch
Twitch announced Hype Chat, a new way for streamers to monetize their communities. Hype Chat is the newest tool available for streamers on Twitch. Hype Chat allows viewers to purchase a message that will be pinned to the top of the chat. The prices for Hype Chat go from $1 USD to $500 USD. Streamers will be able to set the minimum price for Hype Chat at $100 USD. The …
MrBeast may be signing a League of Legends NACL team
Olivia Richman
Twitch
YouTube icon Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is possibly joining fellow content creators by entering esports, more specifically League of Legends. League of Legends is looking like a hot ticket to content creators right now. Charles “MOistCr1TiKaL” White, who owns Moist Esports along with Ludwig Ahgren, is said to be looking into League of Legends after already having teams in Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League. Jeremy “Disguised Toast” Wang is also …
Amouranth drops out of boxing match due to serious health complications
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Kick streamer Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa has opened up about some very serious medical troubles that have caused her to cancel public appearances. Amouranth took to Twitter to reveal some very concerning medical problems she’s been dealing with since March. She explained that she previously wished to keep this serious and sensitive information private but felt she owed fans an explanation after she missed multiple high-profile appearances. According to Amouranth, she …
Kick admits it wanted to work with Twitch star Pokimane
Olivia Richman
Twitch
Imane “Pokimane” Anys has been adamant about her decision not to stream on Kick, but this hasn’t stopped the streaming platform from trying to work with her. Pokimane has made it clear that she’s not interested in streaming for controversial Twitch competitor Kick. The platform is known for its generous subscriber revenue split and lack of regulations regarding gambling and adult material. While that was appealing to streamers like Adin …
Streaming on a Budget: Affordable Equipment andSoftware
William Davis
Twitch
In the world of online streaming, platforms like Twitch have changed the way creators connect with audiences and stream their playtime. However, breaking into the world of streaming can seem daunting, especially for those on a tight budget. Fortunately, with the right approach and strategic investments, budget video and casino game streamers can achieve professional-quality streams without breaking the bank. When it comes to streaming on a budget, prioritizing essential …
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.
