Change is central to Twitch; streamers are always trying out new games and chasing whatever’s trending in order to entertain fans and potentially attract new viewers. However, certain trends and major events within Twitch lately could be harbingers of a shift within the website. For all kinds of reasons, more and more streamers are considering leaving Twitch for YouTube or quitting streaming altogether, which could create openings for growth. At the same time, increasingly creative Twitch trends and high overall Twitch viewership could help some streamers surge in popularity, ultimately becoming a new face of the platform.
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Signs of Change on Twitch
Major entertainers seem increasingly interested in giving YouTube a chance, rather than staying in place on Twitch. In recent years, Twitch has seen a lot of criticism on a number of issues like hate raids and DMCA strikes. Streamers like Ludwig and DrLupo seem optimistic that they’ll find greener pastures on YouTube, and other Twitch streamers may follow in 2022 and beyond, searching for better communication and more concrete action from their streaming platform. The more major streamers leave Twitch, the more room there will be for smaller entertainers to rise to the top and claim their thrones.
Twitch’s changing metas could also help smaller streamers find a place among Twitch’s upper crust. There have always been meta-like trends that take over Twitch once in a while, like Among Us’ time as a top streaming game, but recent Twitch metas have pushed the streaming platform’s boundaries. The hot tub meta has led to the creation of a new Twitch stream category, proving that metas have the power to actively invent new Twitch content types, which will open up new audiences for streamers to target. If creative new metas continue to appear in the coming years, then streamers will have even more unique opportunities to establish themselves as major names in streaming.
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Twitch’s Overall Growth
Recent viewership numbers from Twitch itself should also be considered a good sign for streamers looking to become stars on Twitch. Overall viewership reportedly increased by about 45% in 2021, which is huge, considering how popular Twitch already is. If the platform can still draw in so many new viewers, then new streamers still have plenty of potential new fans out there. Even if major streamers start moving to YouTube, thereby encouraging their fans to switch platforms, Twitch’s newer users may be able to help establish the fame of another streaming generation.
Streamers always come and go naturally, but with factors like these in place, Twitch might see a much more dramatic change than usual in coming years. Considering how Pokimane, xQc, and other major streamers have discussed the possibility of retirement in recent history, it seems like major changes could come to Twitch at a moment’s notice. Twitch will always have a circle of top entertainers, but that circle of entertainers could look very different soon if YouTube draws in more streamers and Twitch metas make certain creators more popular. For now, streaming fans should keep an eye out for changes within the Twitch community.
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