The Impact of Streaming Platforms on the Gaming Industry
Over the past decade, streaming has gradually taken over the gaming industry. Platforms like YouTube Gaming, Facebook Gaming, and Twitch have given content creators a way to get their gameplay in front of the masses and, in the process, changed how people consume and interact with video games. Before streaming, passively watching others play video games wasn’t big business. Most gamers wanted to handle the controller and play titles themselves. Few would have imagined there would be an audience for broadcasting gameplay, but streaming platforms have proved there’s an international one. In this article, we take a look at streaming’s impact on everything from how games are developed to community engagement.
The Rise of Game Streaming Platforms
These days, it’s hard to imagine gaming without streaming, but it wasn’t always that way. Twitch is the most popular platform for streaming games, and it didn’t get its start until June 2011. The introduction of Twitch ushered in a new era in gaming, where professional gamers began streaming their gameplay live and interacting with fans on the platform. In the beginning, Twitch mainly attracted hardcore gamers, but, as time went on, it broke into the mainstream.
Today, Twitch boasts millions of daily users who spend their free time watching live streams. Gamers have different motivations for tuning into Twitch; some watch just for entertainment, and others to interact with streamers and learn tips and strategies for making progress in games they’re playing themselves. For example, a person interested in learning the ins and outs of a game like blackjack could turn to Twitch for information about how to play it before signing up for an online casino. Just like big names in TV and movie streaming, virtual platforms like PokerStars Casino have grown a lot in recent years. These websites offer tutorials to help people get started, and streaming platforms are places where gamers can go to see experts in action and get advice from experienced players.
Many would argue that without Twitch, esports wouldn’t have achieved the level of popularity it has so quickly. What’s clear is that Twitch has allowed gaming to become a profession, with many earning a living by streaming on the platform.
Impact on Game Development
Before streaming, when game developers designed a new title, they did so mostly with individual gamers in mind. Streaming has changed everything, and developers now take viewer engagement into consideration when designing games. That’s because they know the titles they create must appeal to a wide audience if they want streamers to play them and share them with their viewers. Game studios have also added special modes to games to make them easy to stream, including spectator modes and the ability to organize in-game events. One of the best examples of this comes from Fortnite, which has integrated events and customizable content that streamers can easily share with their followers. The goal is to make streaming engaging and fun for the audience and streamer.
Gaming studios know how important streamers have become to their sales, and to show their appreciation and boost advertising, they’ll often give them early access to games or exclusive content to show on their channels. Streamers have become influencers who can effectively convince their audiences to buy specific titles, and that’s why, in many ways, game studies have replaced traditional advertising with endorsements from them. The game Among Us rose to fame this way, with streamers featuring it on their channels, leading to a huge surge in downloads of the title.
Community Building and Engagement
If you’ve ever tuned into a live stream on Twitch, you know that a community develops around different channels. Streamers and audiences often get to know each other and form connections through the platform. Twitch also has features like live chats, fan interactions, and real-time feedback that help streamers develop communities around their content. Many viewers return again and again to talk to their favorite streamers and other fans, which creates a sense of belonging and shared experience.
