Rise in videogame streaming

Sierra Deaver

Sierra Deaver, Editor
January 24, 2021

In a recent report by Stream Hatchet, there was a significant increase of the total hours watched on gaming livestreams. In 2020, the total hours watched increased by 69%. This is an increase of 81% when compared to the total hours watched in 2019.

During a gaming livestream, people (known as streamers) will record their gameplay to a live online audience. Example of streaming sites include Twitch, Facebook or YouTube. Streamers usually stream any game they want, but some of the most popular games streamed are ‘Among Us’, ‘Minecraft’, ‘Fortnite’, and ‘League of Legends’. 

Thousands of people watch gaming live streams around the world, including some students at Amador.

“[My favorite streamer is] Welyn, a twitch streamer that does long streams, then compiles them into play-by-plays on YouTube. Oh, also cringe rapping,” said Nikolas Michail (‘21).

When it comes to gaming livestreams, students can choose from a variety of games and topics to watch. The freedom to choose what games you want to watch appealed to many.

However, in recent times, people spent more time watching gaming livestreams. The most likely cause of this is the COVID-19 pandemic. People spent more time indoors this year and didn’t go out as much. This meant some people turned to gaming livestreams as their source of entertainment. 

“I have started watching more gaming livestreams and livestreams in general because I have a lot more time now and I can’t go outside so I’ve been watching a lot more gaming livestreams, gaming podcasts, just more gaming content in general,” said Veronica Tunyk (‘21).

One such streamer is Valkyrae, seen here playing ‘Among Us’. (Sierra Deaver)

According to The Verge, just a week after the shutdown started, viewership on Twitch and YouTube Gaming grew 10% and 15%, respectively. The shutdown also meant that streamers had more time to stream as well.  This helped to increase the total watch time of video game streams. 

All in all, gaming live streams provided a source of entertainment for people that can be safely viewed from one’s home, and gave viewers the option to choose what type of games they want to watch and when they want to watch.