What is Twitch? Everything You Need to Know

If you are a serious gamer, then you are likely to be aware of Twitch and what it offers. However, for those of you who are unaware, where have you been? Owned and operated by parent company Amazon, Twitch, formally known as Justin.tv, is a live streaming platform that focuses mainly on gaming. Today, a huge number of Esports events are streamed on Twitch, along with a host of other creative content.

Available via their desktop site and mobile app, Twitch was established back in 2011, with the platform mainly targeting video game fans, attracting almost 4 million unique broadcasters to date. Gamers can stream their activity, giving viewers the chance to watch in real-time, with streams lasting up to 10 hours in some cases. Esports organisations and tournaments now have their own Twitch accounts, while the streaming platform has formed partnerships with the likes of Blizzard Entertainment and the Overwatch League in the past too.

How Does Twitch Work?

Twitch is available in both free and paid formats, with those choosing the paid version enjoying uninterrupted viewing, without advertisements, while also gaining access to enhanced storage. Broadcasts on Twitch come with a split screen display, meaning that viewers can see exactly what is taking place on the streamers console, as well as the streamer themselves. Twitch users can comment on what they are watching too, whilst also potentially asking questions in an attempt to gain real-time responses. The majority of streams are also saved, meaning that Twitch users can catch up or watch again at their convenience.

The Amazon-owned platform also makes it easy for users to gain access to new games and merchandise, with popular personalities often receiving commission on sales made through links on Twitch. An easy to use mobile app is now available to both iOS and Android users, meaning that streams can be viewed on the go.

What Kind of Content is Available on Twitch?

Games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, Fortnite, Overwatch, Fall Guys and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds are all now streamed on Twitch on a daily basis, with an estimated 500 million hours of content having been watched. The likes of Ninja and Dr DisRespect have become some of the biggest personalities on Twitch over recent years, with the former having over 15 million subscribers alone.

Meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 reveal in 2020 received some 6.1 million views on Twitch, while the ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018 Finals holds the record for the Esports event with the highest recorded number of concurrent viewers, at 1,088,063. While Twitch has started to broadcast events from the world of music and sport, Esports remains its biggest market by some distance, with the company even holding a biannual convention, centred around video game streaming.

What Other Features Can Be Found on Twitch?

Twitch subscriptions range from anywhere between $4.99 to $24.99 a month, offering a host of perks, including chat badges and exclusive emojis, known as Emotes. Emotes allow users to show their support for streamers, while chat badges act as a form of identification, whether you are a VIP or a broadcaster. Meanwhile, Twitch Prime has recently been introduced, a service which offers a greater number of games and in-game content, however it must be manually renewed by customers each and every month. Twitch announced that Prime would be rebranded as Prime Gaming in August 2020.