ReportStream Hatchet
Video Game Streaming Trends: 2022 Third Quarter Report
1 Sept 202214 pages~16 min full read
Twitch maintains a dominant 72% market share of gaming hours watched, while YouTube grew its viewership by 4% and Facebook Gaming suffered a 70% decline following the discontinuation of its standalone app.
See it on page 4The live streaming industry is stabilizing post-pandemic with total hours watched down 13% year-over-year, though current viewership remains nearly double 2019 levels.
See it on page 3Esports viewership grew 40% year-over-year, with Twitch capturing 66% of this segment and eight of the top ten esports organizations now generating the majority of their watch time through non-competitive variety content.
See it on page 5While the total number of active channels decreased by 13%, the remaining creators increased their output, leading to a 7.5% year-over-year rise in total hours broadcast.
See it on page 3VTubers are a significant growth driver, now representing 50% of the top ten female creators and achieving an average viewership increase of 30% over the previous quarter.
See it on page 11Grand Theft Auto V and League of Legends remain the leading titles, though the quarter was also marked by a peak in gambling viewership on Twitch prior to the implementation of new platform restrictions.
See it on page 7The third quarter of 2022 reflects a period of stabilization for the live streaming industry as it transitions away from pandemic-era highs. While total hours watched and unique channels both decreased by 13% compared to the previous year, the market remains significantly larger than in 2019, with viewership levels nearly double those of the pre-pandemic era. Data indicates that while fewer creators are active, those remaining are broadcasting for longer durations, resulting in a 7.5% increase in total hours broadcast year-over-year.
Twitch maintains a dominant market share, accounting for 72% of total gaming hours watched, followed by YouTube at 15% and Facebook Gaming at 12%. Notably, YouTube was the only major platform to see growth in hours watched, rising 4% as high-profile creators migrated to the service. Conversely, Facebook Gaming experienced a sharp 70% decline in viewership, likely influenced by the discontinuation of its standalone app. In contrast to the broader market slowdown, the esports segment grew by 40% year-over-year, with Twitch capturing 66% of this specific market.
Content trends highlight the rising influence of VTubers and the strategic shift of esports organizations toward variety content. VTubers now represent 50% of the top ten female creators, with the top ten VTubers seeing an average viewership growth of 30% over the previous quarter. Additionally, eight of the top ten esports organizations now generate more than half of their total watch time through content creators rather than competitive matches. While established titles like Grand Theft Auto V and League of Legends continue to lead the charts, the quarter also saw a peak in gambling viewership on Twitch just prior to the implementation of new platform restrictions on unlicensed sites.
