Play to Win, Profit & Entertain: A Study of Double Performance as Athlete and Streamer

This study examines how professional esports players perform differently when they compete as athletes and when they broadcast as live streamers, drawing on Martín-Barbero's and Orozco-Gómez's mediation models and performance theory. Its central thesis is that these two roles demand distinct competences and are shaped by different forms of mediation, and that the streamer persona, though it projects authenticity, ultimately serves the professional persona rather than the reverse. The analysis is organized around a single case study of a Brazilian League of Legends player who also streams on Twitch.

The empirical foundation consists of 20 videos: 10 matches from the 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends (CBLoL) and 10 live streams. Comparison of these recordings reveals a sharp contrast in self-presentation. In competition, the player displays strong expressive control, with restrained body language, team-oriented composure, and rare displays of emotion. On stream, his persona becomes more dramatized and informal, marked by frequent facial expressions, catchphrases, open consumption of food and drink, and clothing tied to his personal brand, with a more individualistic and openly commercial orientation.

The authors are careful to note that these streaming behaviors are measured performances rather than unguarded backstage conduct. Their conclusion is that the streamer identity reinforces athletic credibility and financial interests rather than offering a purely authentic self. Because the findings derive from one player and a limited set of recordings, they are not statistically generalizable, though they offer a detailed framework for understanding dual-role performance in esports.