A Gamer’s Guide to Streaming Platforms

While there are many different platforms available to gaming streamers, once you settle down, your chosen platform will likely be your home for a long time – if not forever. Some people like to stream on multiple different platforms, but if you’re looking to optimise your revenue, its often best to settle on just one. With that said, how do you choose?

At MinMxD, we aim to give you the best shot at growing your channel and capitalising on any opportunities you may find. The platform you stream on is no different. In this article we’ll offer a brief overview of the main streaming platforms, give some insight into their payment methods, and offer the pros and cons of streaming on multiple platforms.

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There are smaller streaming platforms out there, but your best bet is to focus on established platforms or quickly rising stars with the potential to help you reach large audiences. As such, we’ve outlined the benefits of the ‘big three’ of gaming streaming platforms that you should consider as your main home for livestreaming content.

In no particular order, here are the top three streaming platforms for gamers and their audience:

Twitch

Originally known as Justin.tv and formed back in 2007, Twitch is perhaps the longest-lasting gaming streaming service. Twitch itself was formed in 2011, a few years before Justin.tv’s dissolution, making it another strong option when looking at longevity and staying power.

With Amazon partnership and a huge number of other great integrations, Twitch is often the first choice that comes to mind when looking for a place to stream your gaming content. And, because people know Twitch is where to go when you’re looking for gaming livestreams, you’re likely to be able to build an audience more quickly if your sole focus is on streaming.

However, some content creators aren’t a fan of certain restrictions Twitch put in place on their creators, such as the inability to post content you’ve streamed on Twitch anywhere else for at least 24 hours once you become an affiliate. Pair that with platforms like YouTube offering video upload services as well as streaming, it becomes clear why some people move to other platforms.

YouTube

Like Twitch, YouTube started its livestreaming service back in 2011. An initial version was rolled out for selected users in May, while full access became available to the public at a later date.

Unlike Twitch, however, YouTube does have some base requirements before you can start livestreaming. These include:

• Having a minimum of 50 subscribers
• Verified status for your channel
• Livestreaming enabled for your status – this could take up to 24 hours to be confirmed
• No livestreaming restrictions within the last 90 days

Since you require subscribers before you can even begin livestreaming, YouTube isn’t ideal for anyone who wants to exclusively livestream their content and is just starting out.

On the other hand, the barrier for entry is relatively low, and the ability to create regular videos alongside your livestreams means you can reach a broader audience than you would be able to on other platforms – opening up your options for content diversity and revenue streams.

Find out how to optimise your YouTube video thumbnails >

Kick

The newest kid on the block, Kick, a livestreaming service, began in 2022. It has had a fairly rocky start, with controversies surrounding its lax reaction towards harassment and negative content on the site. For some, this lack of strict regulation is a plus, but it does put your content alongside some more unsavoury streams.

Overall, Kick is a young platform with a lot of potential. With the mistakes made by larger platforms in the past, it’s no wonder it’s grown so fast – with over 200,000 streams every day. The lucrative benefits it offers streamers who come over to the platform are also not to be discounted either, with revenue incentives that are completely unmatched by competitors.

The amount you earn from your streams can vary for a lot of reasons. User donations, audience size, and stream goals and rewards are all things that can influence the amount you earn. However, as far as your baseline revenue is concerned, the thing that makes the biggest impact is the platform you stream on.

Kick: On Kick, you get a 95% share of the revenue you earn, with only 5% going to the company itself! With the ability to simulcast onto other platforms without losing this share, the platform claims you could “double or even triple” the amount you earn.

YouTube: YouTube offers monetisation in two main ways: ads and donations. On ads, you can expect to receive around $18 per 1,000 ad views you get. Meanwhile, donations (and channel memberships) offer you 70% of price the user pays. Not quite the 95% that Kick offers, but the ad revenue can add up quickly if you have a good video release schedule. That, and the accessibility of the platform’s name means people are more likely to find your channel.

Twitch: While the top dog in terms of brand recognition, Twitch only offers you 50% of the amount you earn from each subscription. Likewise, Bits are the brands supported form of donations, but the streamer doesn’t receive the full amount paid. As such, many streamers use external links that allow them to receive some or all of the donation in full.

Overall, the streaming platform who pays the most is the one where you can establish yourself and keep drawing in viewers. You may find it hard to get a presence on new platforms like Kick, so despite the 95% revenue value, you could end up taking home less cash overall. However, as far as getting your money’s worth, Kick certainly seems like the place to be.

If you want to build a strategy that will increase your revenue, your best bet is talking to an expert – contact us today.

Streaming on multiple platforms comes with a few pros and cons.

The main advantages of streaming on multiple platforms (i.e. simulcasting) include:

• Increased revenue from multiple audiences
• Increased overall growth from reaching more people
• Perks and benefits unique to each platform

However, there are also some disadvantages to streaming on multiple platforms, such as:

• Terms and conditions which may prevent you from doing so
• Limiting your growth on each platform due to the audience being split
• A harder time engaging with each individual audience
• A reduction in ‘community feeling’ due to your full audience not being able to engage with one another

If done incorrectly, streaming on multiple platforms can feel a bit disconnected from the community you’re trying to engage with. However, if you can manage it, then simulcasting becomes a powerful way to boost both your engagement, and your revenue.

Between Kick, YouTube, and Twitch, the one you ultimately choose comes down to personal preference. Some people may even choose all three! But if you want to make an informed decision that’ll benefit your brand the most, then you should consider the advantages and positioning of each platform.

Or you could get in touch with the team at MinMxD. We have all the expertise you need to succeed in the streaming industry, helping you build and discover strategies and tactics to boost your growth and revenue. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out!

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