The Exodus of Twitch Streamers to YouTube: A Mixed Bag of Results
In 2022, several popular streamers made the move from Twitch to YouTube in search of better opportunities. However, this transition hasn’t been as successful as they had anticipated. Out of the notable names including Fuslie, LilyPichu, Myth, Swagg, and Sykkuno, only one streamer saw an increase in average viewership after the platform switch, according to Streams Charts.
Swagg, an FPS gamer from Faze Clan, experienced a 16% boost in average viewers with over 10,000 concurrent viewers following his move in early September. On the other hand, the rest of the streamers have witnessed a decline in their average viewership, albeit slight.
Sykkuno, who migrated to YouTube in May, has managed to maintain a similar viewership with only a 1.5% decline in average viewers, from 15,058 to 14,836. Conversely, Myth has experienced the largest drop in viewership, decreasing by 72% to an average of 978 viewers from over 2,000 on Twitch.
It’s important to note that one of the main reasons creators move from Twitch to YouTube is for the flexibility it offers. YouTube’s reputation for granting contracts that allow creators to produce diverse content beyond livestreaming appeals to many. As the world’s largest video platform, YouTube provides streamers with the opportunity to explore content creation outside the confines of a purely livestreaming-focused platform like Twitch.
Ludwig, who made the transition to YouTube in late 2021, exemplifies the possibilities that come with a YouTube deal. Although he may not stream as extensively as xQc or HasanAbi on Twitch, Ludwig’s increased video output has potentially made him more successful than he was on Twitch.
While numbers aren’t everything, it’s still too early to determine whether moving to YouTube was a smart choice for these creators, even when considering their average viewership figures. Similar to creators like Ludwig, CouRage, Valkyrae, and TimTheTatman, the shift to YouTube was driven by long-term growth opportunities rather than an immediate increase in live viewership.