The future of livestreaming giant Twitch ââââââ looks uncertain as various controversies push content creators away from streaming on the website. One of the main factors is a revenue change that sees Twitch move away from its 70/30 pay split to 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.Twitch reassessing 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.
Ninja Could Be Paving the Way For Others
This isn't the first time Ninja 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 many streamers 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. YouTuber Valkyrae is one of the most outspoken creators in favor of YouTube, saying she's happy with the website and the stability it offers.
If Ninja's strategy of opening doors to every platform - including Facebook Gaming, YouTube, Twitter, and even TikTok Live - works, the popular Fortnite and League of Legends player 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.
Ninja and Twitch on Bad Terms
It seems Amazon is still collecting money from Ninja's subscribers, despite the fact that his sub button was removed at the beginning of the month alongside his verified check mark. It's certainly not a good look for the company overall, as subscribers have pointed out their concerns on social media.
The manner in which Twitch has decided to treat top streamers like 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 try to create new ones.
Twitch appears to be on a downward spiral with controversies surfacing every other day and Twitch 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.