In response to the recent changes & potential changes on Twitch, I’d like to share my thoughts on why I’m worried about the future for creators. I’m seriously doubting how viable it’ll be for streamers to do this as a job (part-time or full-time) and it’s heartbreaking for creators and communities alike.
To be super clear: this post comes from someone who LOVES Twitch, the community, & wants the absolute best for the platform. Someone who massively wants it to succeed. A big part of helping it to continue to be successful is making sure it’s viable for streamers to create on this platform.
Localized sub pricing
One impact was the introduction of localized sub pricing. It’s a brilliant idea & making subscribing more viable for international folks is something I absolutely believe in & has had such a wonderful impact on non-US viewers. However, The knock-on effect on those with a significant portion of non-US subscribers was big. Many of us (especially those outside the US) experienced a significant income drop. Twitch “made up” the income drop for some months (which was really appreciated!) but this financial help decreased and expired over time. For many of us, this made streaming less viable in a big way. Twitch are offering other incentives and I truly do believe are trying to introduce other revenue avenues, but the reality is that regardless of intent, these changes do not help with viability – just like the personalized ad incentive offer.
The introduction of more ads, in more forms is frustrating for viewers & seems to support Twitch much more than it supports the creator (which is in a minuscule way) despite the presence of “This ad supports [creator’s name]” in the top corner – that message seems deceptive and I’d like to see it more realistically phrased.
Overview of the adjusted localised subscription prices as published by Twitch
How does this affect creators?
I rarely discuss my income, but I’d like to give some personal perspective here. My average viewership is up by 20% compared to last year, yet my income from Twitch is down by nearly 40%. I am aware that there are many factors contributing to this, but a significant one is the changes Twitch has made and is making. How do I know this? Direct date/income correlations, feedback from my community, and discussion with other creators who have experienced the exact same correlation; this is not an experience unique to me. Far from it.
So, I’d like to ask; how many creators will end up working an unhealthy number of hours? An increase that will have a significant impact on their mental, emotional & physical health? My guess is many. Many of us. As a disabled streamer who physically can’t increase the number of streams & who’s income pays 2 wages, what do I do?
Viewers; please, please do not see this (ridiculously long) essay as pressure to financially contribute. That is not what any single streamer I know wants. Please know that we love you. We care. We want to be here, & just hanging out with us is a giant compliment, a huge privilege & MORE than enough! Please also understand that many of us will be relying on sponsorships more than before. We’re not “selling out”, we’re working to be able to provide free-to-watch content. Creators pick sponsors with great care & understanding of our responsibility to you and the influence we have. A huge thank you for interacting with our sponsored content, it’s often free (viewing, link clicking, liking, retweeting and checking out the sponsor). It helps more than you know.
Diversify your income
So let’s conclude this extremely long post.
Fellow creators – diversify your income. That page you’ve put off setting up? Do it. That content you could upload to other platforms, like putting your TikToks on Insta reels or YouTube shorts? Do it. Reaching out to companies you love and you know your community will love, to see if they’re interested in working together? Do it.
Viewers – thank you so much for being there, for your kind words, presence, and support in any form.
Twitch – please speak to your creators. Ask us, understand our needs. If we work together, it’s not just about you helping us keep creating, but also about how we can help you make this platform better! We want this space to be successful. Please listen. Please let us help.
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