Playing video games have been popular since the 1970s. However, in more recent years many people also enjoy watching other individuals who play games. In the 2010s live streaming of games have emerged as a popular social gaming activity that attracts millions of viewers from around the world. The American based site Twitch, Facebook, YouTube but also Chinese sites Huya Live and DouYu have accumulated large and growing fan bases. Join us below as we unpack the fascinating and diverse world of gaming streams that keeps growing.
The emergence of gaming streams
The gaming industry’s enormous success is to a large degree rooted in its ability to reinvent itself and adapt to changing consumer behavior patterns. The emergence of gaming streaming platforms has in recent years dramatically changed the relationship between game consumers and their preferred online games. While gaming used to be mainly a local activity with friends, gaming streams has enabled professional gamers to display their gaming skills in live streams while interacting with their global fans base.
The growing demand for live streaming content has boosted the growth of gaming streams. Founded in 2011, the U.S.-based Twitch site has become the leading global gaming streaming platform with more than 15 million active users on a daily basis. There are several reasons why gaming streams have attracted this large and growing number of active users:
- Gamers like to share their gaming experience with other individuals.
- Connecting and exchanging experiences and tips with other gaming fans
- Gaming company sponsorship of popular gamers stimulate further industry growth
As the leading platform in the gaming streaming world, Twitch has expanded to Europe, Latin America and Asia. The streaming giant has consequently accumulated a user base of more than 140 million unique monthly viewers.
More recently, YouTube, Facebook Gaming, Microsoft and Huya Live and DouYu have emerged as competitors challenging Twitch. This competition has further boosted industry growth and innovation.
Bingo gaming streams
Modern bingo emerged in 1920s America and eventually became a very popular game worldwide. In the 1960s bingo halls emerged in the UK and other countries. However, the Internet revolution transformed online bingo into the dominating play format. Today, it is possible playing bingo with Jackpotjoy or other respected bingo sites.
In recent years bingo gaming streams have become a popular phenomenon. While conventional online bingo is automated, bingo streams is characterized by a live stream where a real person announces the bingo numbers as they emerge. The novelty of bingo streams is that they offer a hybrid bridge between the social world of bingo halls and the tech-savvy world of online bingo.
Gaming streams fosters community building
Like other forms of streams, gaming streams foster the creation of digital communities that unite gaming fans from around the world. While people can still play solo, gaming streams creates an important social dimension and feeling of membership in a wider context. In some cases, these gamers develop strong digital friendships although they may reside in opposite parts of the world.
The gaming streams communities enable gamers to exchange ideas, experiences and tips on their favorite games with likeminded people worldwide.
Gaming streaming as a hobby or profession
Millions of gaming streamers worldwide engage in this activity because they view it as a fun and entertaining hobby that enriches their lives. However, some gaming streamers who have succeeded in building large fan bases, seek to monetize their passion for gaming. For instance, Ninja, one of Twitch’s top ranked streamers who specializes in the game Fortnite, has accumulated an impressive amount of 18 million followers and close to 600 million channel views. Unsurprisingly, the leading streamers have therefore succeeded in attracting financially lucrative sponsorships from various companies.
Gaming streaming as live entertainment
Most players probably agree that the gaming experience is more fun when it is shared with friends. Gaming streaming brings the entertainment to an entirely new level. Live streaming enables the connection of many gaming fans worldwide. While the top gaming streamers have obvious gaming skills, they also tend to be fun and offer entertainment for their respective fan bases.
In some cases, leading gaming streamers unite and form teams in various live stream competitions that attract many fans around the world. In sum, gaming streaming makes the game experience more rich and considerably more entertaining.
Conclusion
The world of gaming streams emerged in the 2010s, fueled by the growing demand for streaming content. The American site Twitch is the world’s leading gaming streaming platform but is facing competition from YouTube, Facebook Gaming and Chinese sites like Huya Live and DouYu.
Gaming streams have enabled gamers to share their experiences with other gamers and fans. While games like Fortnite have millions of fans worldwide, traditional games like bingo also enjoy streaming success. Gaming streams offer users a sense of belonging to a community. In addition, gaming streams offer entertainment and possibility for top players to make serious money.
