The future of livestreaming giantTwitchââââââ looks uncertain as various controversies push content creators away from streaming on the website. One of the main factors is arevenue change that sees Twitch move away from its 70/30 pay splitto a lower 50/50 for high-profile streamers. While popular streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins already announced he would be streaming on a variety of platforms prior to Twitch’s changes, it’s uncertain what this will mean for the platform overall.Twitchreassessing its monetary policy has not been a welcome decision for most, especially considering the Amazon-owned site’s massive growth over the past couple of years. With some of its top performers including Ninja either diversifying across other websites or leaving the platform altogether, it’s hard to determine what will become of Twitch if it can’t retain the major names that helped make famous.RELATED:Twitch Streamer xQc Says He Knew Gambling Streams Were ‘Wrong’
Ninja Could Be Paving the Way For Others
This isn’t the first timeNinja has left Twitch, though this new situation will still see him active on the platform. However, his plan to stream “everywhere” is a move that Amazon can’t possibly be happy with, as most platforms prefer that their influencers and streamers create content exclusively for them.
The change in monetization has already seen manystreamers announcing that they are leaving Twitch for YouTube, joining others who have already found financial security contracts with the Google-owned website. CodeMiko is one of the latest to declare that she’ll be leaving Twitch for YouTube, directly citing these revenue changes alongside the likes of Ludwig, Sykunno, and more.
Twitch has long received backlash for giving streamers' unstable income, as a lot of what they make relies on subscriptions, donations, and other circumstantial factors. YouTube and other streaming platforms are more enticing for many, as they are being offered a certain salary to switch, meaning they don’t have to rely as much on factors like donations. YouTuberValkyrae is one of the most outspoken creators in favor of YouTube, saying she’s happy with the website and the stability it offers.
IfNinja’s strategy of opening doors to every platform- including Facebook Gaming, YouTube, Twitter, and even TikTok Live - works, the popularFortniteandLeague of Legendsplayer may blaze a new trail for fellow content creators. Being fully accessible to the masses and earning income across the board may urge other streamers to follow in his footsteps, which could hurt Twitch.
The manner in whichTwitch has decided to treat top streamerslike Ninja has led some to believe that the company truly doesn’t care about keeping them around. It may be that Amazon believes its users are so loyal to its platform that it doesn’t need these big-name streamers in the end, as they could always attempt to create new ones.
Twitchappears to be on a downward spiral with controversies surfacing every other day andTwitch executives departing from the company. As more platforms begin to open up streaming options, Twitch has more competition than ever. While it may be too soon to say for sure, it’s not looking good for the website’s future if major changes aren’t made and streamers like Ninja continue spending their time elsewhere.
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