ReportStream Hatchet
Video Game Streaming Trends Report 2021
1 Jan 202128 pages~18 min full read
Total video game streaming watch time reached 28.7 billion hours in 2021, representing a 21% year-over-year increase.
See it on page 4Twitch maintains market dominance with 71% of total hours watched, while Facebook Gaming and YouTube Gaming tied for the second-most-watched platforms by year-end.
See it on page 5The creator economy is highly concentrated, as 1.2% of influencers generate nearly 16% of Twitch's subscription and bit revenue, while 93% of creators are classified as micro-influencers.
See it on page 22Mobile gaming titles such as Garena Free Fire and PUBG Mobile are significant drivers of global engagement, particularly within Asian markets.
See it on page 12Female representation among the top 200 creators remains low at 5%, showing only marginal growth despite platform-wide inclusivity efforts.
See it on page 19Achieving top-tier status in the streaming industry is a long-term endeavor, requiring an average of five years of consistent content creation.
See it on page 24The 2021 Video Game Streaming Trends Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global live streaming landscape, documenting the industry's transition from a pandemic-driven surge to a permanent fixture in global pop culture. The report evaluates performance across major western platforms—Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming—throughout the 2021 calendar year. By aggregating data on hours watched, concurrent viewership, and creator demographics, the analysis highlights the evolving nature of the creator economy and the persistent challenges regarding inclusivity within gaming communities.
Key findings indicate that total video game streaming watch time grew by 21% year-over-year, reaching 28.7 billion hours. Twitch maintained its market dominance, accounting for 71% of total hours watched, while Facebook Gaming experienced significant growth, eventually tying YouTube Gaming for the second-most-watched platform by the end of the year. The report identifies a shift toward mobile gaming, noting that titles like Garena Free Fire and PUBG Mobile are driving massive engagement, particularly in Asian markets. Furthermore, the data reveals that the creator economy remains highly concentrated; only 1.2% of influencers generate nearly 16% of total subscription and bit revenue on Twitch, with 93% of the platform's creators classified as micro-influencers.
The report also addresses critical social issues, specifically the gender gap in streaming. Despite efforts by major platforms to implement inclusive policies, female representation among the top 200 creators remains low at 5%, a marginal increase from previous years. The analysis concludes that while the streaming industry has matured beyond its initial lockdown-era growth, success for creators now requires long-term consistency, with top-tier status often taking an average of five years to achieve. The findings are based on proprietary data analytics and industry insights provided by Stream Hatchet, focusing on western-facing platforms and global gaming trends.
