There are more ways to enjoy video games than jumping into the latest multiplayer game. Game streaming lets players broadcast their gameplay to an audience of viewers to share the experience in real-time, and the biggest and most popular streaming platform is Twitch. While it started off as a niche community of PC gamers, Twitch has exploded to feature all types of content beyond gaming. That makes it somewhat of a broad topic to cover, but I have broken down all the essential information and components of Twitch so you can get a grip on what all the hype is about.
What is Twitch?
Image used with permission by copyright holder Founded in 2011, Twitch is a platform for live video streaming, offering nearly anything you’d want to watch, from cooking, music, Q&A sessions, and — the leading driver of traffic — video games. It originally started as a spinoff division of Justin.tv, with gaming as the main priority. Twitch became so popular that it led to an entire rebrand of Justin.tv, which changed its name to Twitch Interactive in 2014. Then, later that year, Twitch Interactive was acquired by Amazon.
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Twitch has become so ubiquitous that you can find your favorite musician, politician, and professional gamer streaming alongside your friends and neighbors. If there’s a topic or style of content you enjoy, odds are you can find a streamer on Twitch providing it.
How to access Twitch
Image used with permission by copyright holder Twitch is available for streaming on many platforms, including consoles and mobile devices, but the easiest way to access Twitch is to visit the official Twitch website to watch streams. If your device has access to the internet and supports apps, you can probably use it for Twitch.
Creating an account is free, whether you’re a streamer or viewer. You need an account to leave comments on streams, as well as to subscribe to or follow other content creators. However, many creators offer subscriptions at a price for added benefits, accept donations, and/or run ads to monetize their streams.
From the homepage, you can check out a host of recommended streamers live at any given time, you can browse based on what game you want to see, or search through different categories to find whatever you’re looking for.
How to stream on Twitch
Image used with permission by copyright holder If you want to dive into the world of Twitch streaming yourself, there are a few tools you will need. We have a more detailed guide on how to stream on Twitch you should check out, but the short version is that you will need either a current video game console or PC, a microphone, and a webcam if you intend on showing yourself on camera.
There are a lot more expensive pieces of equipment you can get to make your stream easier and higher quality, but if you’re just starting out, there’s no need to get more than the basics. It takes a ton of effort and dedication (plus a lot of luck) to make any money streaming on Twitch so don’t invest a ton of your own cash unless you’re ready to fully commit and are okay with not seeing any returns for a while.
Purpose of Twitch streams
Image used with permission by copyright holder There are endless reasons one might come to Twitch, but for gamers, the main draw is to see a game in action. Many gamers will tune in to a Twitch stream to see someone else play it to decide if they think it will be worth buying for themselves. Sometimes reading or watching a review isn’t enough — it’s best to see the game in action. That’s where Twitch comes in. Typically, streamers will have two video captures going at once: One of the game itself and one of the streamer reacting to what they are playing. This gives each stream its own personality. You aren’t just watching the game, but the streamer, as well. On the other hand, some people get more enjoyment watching their favorite personality play certain games than they would playing it themselves.
Some streamers acquire early access to an upcoming game and will partner with its publisher in exchange for advertising. If you see your favorite streamer playing an upcoming game you might have been on the fence about, watching the stream could help you make a more informed decision to purchase.
Another draw to streams is the ability to directly interact with the streamer and other people in chat. Maybe they’re funny or have similar tastes to yours. It’s this connection that streamers (and viewers) need to keep the business going. Streams will typically be accompanied by a live chat, in which its viewers can communicate with the streamer and other people watching. It gives a sense of community other video formats simply can’t provide.
Affiliates and Partners
Popular Guitar Hero/Rock Band streamer Acai. Image used with permission by copyright holder What are Twitch Affiliates?
Many content creators can make a living on Twitch, through donations, subscriptions, and ads. You must become a Twitch Affiliate to make money through Twitch directly, which is earned by reaching a certain level of viewership, as well as other stats. There are different ways of generating revenue as a Twitch streamer, but if you want to do so through the platform itself, you’ll need to become an Affiliate.
To become a Twitch Affiliate, you need to earn the following:
At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days At least 50 FollowersOnce these qualifications have been met, Twitch invites you to become an Affiliate, which allows you to start making money through the platform. Affiliates can generate revenue in a few different ways: Ads, Bits, and subscriptions. For starters, as of 2019, those who have reached Affiliate status share ad revenue with Twitch. Ads play throughout the stream, with the content creator having the ability to choose the frequency at which they appear.
Another way to earn revenue as an Affiliate is with Bits. These are a form of virtual currency that allows viewers to cheer for the streamer. The current conversion rate is one cent per Bit. Think of this as a tip that comes with a special animated Cheer message that appears in the chat.
They can also earn money from the three subscription tiers: $8.99, $9.99, and $24.99 monthly, which is split 50/50 with Twitch. Subscribers make monthly payments to a streamer to show financial support while gaining access to special emotes, badges, exclusive chats, and ad-free streams.
Amazon Prime subscribers also get one free Twitch sub each month as a perk of that subscription, but you need to remember to use that subscription each month.
What are Twitch Partners?
Twitch Partners are essentially a step up above Affiliates, with a few added perks. They receive the same benefits as Affiliates but also have access to a verified user badge, priority access to the support team, access to opportunities like meet and greets, broadcast delay of up to 15 minutes, up to 50 emote slots, and a lot more. Those who have become Affiliates can then begin the Path to Partner, which requires you to:
Stream for 25 hours within the last 30 days Stream on 12 different days within the last 30 days Average of 75 viewers within the last 30 days (concurrent viewership excluding hosts, raids, and embeds)Once you’ve met these goals and have held them for 30 days, you can apply for Partner and are subject to approval from Twitch.
“Partners are the best broadcasters that the Twitch community has to offer,” Twitch says. “We are looking for broadcasters that have large viewership and have built up a strong sub-community of their own. Our ideal Partner candidates engage their audience, produce amazing content, and find ways to stand out from the crowd.”
Prime Gaming subscription
Image used with permission by copyright holder You can pay for a monthly subscription to Prime Gaming for the latest and most exclusive benefits out there for avid users. Fortunately for those who already have an Amazon Prime account, you automatically gain a free Prime Gaming subscription by connecting your two accounts. Prime Gaming subscribers gain access to the following benefits:
One Twitch channel subscription “Free” games every month that you get to keep forever In-game content at no additional cost Prime Gaming loot to gift to other Twitch members Exclusive emotes Additional chat colors Exclusive chat badge Save broadcasts for 60 days (instead of only 14 days)You can also subscribe to Prime Gaming outside of Amazon Prime for just $15 per month. Being a Prime subscriber gives you access to even more exclusive content, whether you have a creator account or just view as an audience member. Even if you’re a subscriber, you’ll see ads when you’re streaming on Twitch, but it’s worth the membership for other benefits. For example, any user subscribed to Prime Gaming automatically gets unlimited access to free games like Control: Ultimate Edition, StarCraft: Remastered, Recompile, and others.
While Twitch’s primary premise is for observing video game players in action, it also has many other perks and features to offer users. In addition to watching video game streamers, you can also watch Twitch users stream cooking shows, provide commentary on sporting events, and discover new things while having an interactive audience. Whether you’re a creator or an audience member, you’ll discover how much fun it is to engage in the chat with like-minded viewers. This level of interaction makes Twitch an active social platform where you’re likely to find the right community.
