Every day, more than 30 million humans log onto the internet to watch someone else play a video game. Years ago, that might have seemed ridiculous. Today, it’s just called Twitch, Amazon’s reigning video live streaming platform, which has become a cultural phenomenon for this generation of gamers.
In 2020, more than 1 trillion minutes were watched on Twitch, proving games have very much become a spectator sport. But what’s even more interesting to watch is Twitch’s impact on surrounding industries. For instance, the June 2021 cover of Sports Illustrated introduced sports fans to one of the most successful teams today: FaZe Clan, an esports and video game streaming collective that Forbes values at more than $300 million. And prior to last year’s election, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez streamed the popular whodunit party game Among Us to more than 400,000 viewers, breaking records and encouraging many gamers to vote.
It’s these amazing crossovers that make Twitch so unique, and make us want to stream a little stream of our own. To learn how, we consulted Stephon Millon, assistant esports manager at the Luxor’s HyperX Esports Arena, which features a separate streaming room. Here’s what our expert had to say.
CREATING A STREAMLINED SETUP
PCs
PC streamers are some of the most common content creators on Twitch. For basic streaming, Millon says, you can hold off on going the build route. “Get a pre-build if you are new to PCs and streaming, unless you have someone to help you out,” he says. “Most pre-builds now are worth the price, you just need to look around. You don’t need to overspend just to stream.”
Millon recommends getting a computer with at least 16 gigabytes of RAM, a CPU with a 6 or 8 core configuration (such as the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X) and a 1070, 1080 or 30 series graphics card.
Video & lighting
Streamers often film themselves playing, so a high-quality webcam like the Logitech C920 or C922 is ideal, Millon says. Lighting matters, but a simple ring light works.
Audio
“Audio is probably the most important thing, and video second,” Millon says, “because a lot of people who watch streams are typically lurking and working on something else or watching something and they just have you up in the background.” He recommends an entry level microphone like the HyperX Quadcast or a Blue Yeti to interact with viewers.
Internet
First off, ditch the Wi-Fi. Hardwire your computer or console into your router or modem for a stable connection. Upload speeds also take precedence over download, Millon says. “Anything above 10 megabits per second is pretty decent for upload.”
Consoles
Today’s current PlayStation and Xbox systems feature options that let you broadcast on Twitch with the click of a few buttons. You can still connect a camera if you want to show your face, but keep in mind that what you can pick is specific to your console. As for audio, a headset with a microphone is all you need.
POPULAR GAME GENRES TO STREAM
Talking
You thought Twitch was just for gamers? Think again. The genre “Just Chatting,” is the top-viewed category on the platform at nearly all times. All you have to do is hang out and talk to people on the internet. What a concept.
Competitive shooters
These games are the cream of the content crop. Right now, battle royale (in which you have one life and duke it out to be the last one standing) is smoking hot. Titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends and Fortnite lead as the top streamed games. But tense contenders like Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive also sweep up viewers.
Competitive MOBAs
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games Dota 2 and League of Legends wrote the book on competitive gaming. To put it into perspective, in 2019, the League of Legends World Championship raked in more viewers than the Super Bowl. These games have not only been around the block, they’re heavily spectated.
Games that never die
This category belongs to the games that can’t stop being played. The wild and very mature free-roaming title Grand Theft Auto V and the wholesome, chill building game Minecraft are pushing a decade-old, but they look great on every single game platform—because they keep being re-released. If you’re stumped on what to play, there’s never a shortage of viewers on these games.
TIPS FOR GOING LIVE
Stay engaged
Great streamers keep up with the flow of chat and respond to viewers’ comments. It’s all about connection!
Invest in other platforms
Relying on just Twitch to let your followers know you’re streaming isn’t wise. Build your following on other social platforms like Twitter, TikTok and YouTube to promote not just your streams but your personality. Many viewers come for the game but stay for the streamer.
Watch out for DMCA
Twitch cracks down hard on streamers who use copyrighted material, such as recorded music, in their streams. If the platform receives a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notification about your stream or even an archived video from it, Twitch will take action. Many games have amazing real-life music soundtracks (shout out to Grand Theft Auto), but be mindful about allowing them to play on stream. Luckily some games have options to turn off copyrighted music.
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