YouTube ceased being solely a host for videos and clips long ago, and with the launch of YouTube Live, it has become a full-fledged platform for streaming. Among them, a large segment is represented by gaming broadcasts in the YouTube Gaming section. This blog will explore the three most popular streamers in this category, the data for which were provided by the analytical platform Streams Charts.
Despite the fact that Twitch is now considered the most popular service for gaming broadcasts, in recent years, YouTube Gaming actively draws top streamers from its competitor. Exclusive contracts with the platform have been commonplace for a long time — popular content creators, who are confident in the loyalty of their audience, can afford to choose terms with more convenient working hours and salaries. Fans will still come to watch their broadcasts, no matter where they take place.
Some of the most popular streamers who have switched from Twitch to YouTube Gaming in the last couple of years include Ludwig, TimTheTatman, and DrLupo. In some cases, such as DrDisrespect, who got a lifetime ban on Twitch, the switch is inevitable. The leader in YouTube game streaming in terms of Hours Watched is Ilyas el Maliki – الياس المالكي from Morocco — with almost 6.8 million Hours Watched in two months, mainly due to GTA V and FIFA broadcasts. If you look at gaming preferences, the top streamers from the U.S. mainly prefer shooters and sports simulators. Asian content creators, on the other hand, more often play mobile games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
In this Article:
👨🏽 IShowSpeed
Darren IShowSpeed Watkins, Jr. is one of the most popular gaming YouTubers from the United States, with more than 15.8 million subscribers on his gaming YouTube channel (and in 2021, there were only 100K subscribers). IShowSpeed is the type of streamer who makes his audience go wild with his reactions and behavior when he’s on air. He is loud, harsh, very emotional, and, of course, funny. Viewers love watching his game sessions, especially his failures. IShowSpeed often “burns” on his streams, which only entertains viewers. From time to time, because of his behavior, he gets into various scandals, but fans forgive him a lot.
IShowSpeed’s content is quite diverse. He often streams GTA V but likes sports simulators like FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer the most. IShowSpeed is a big football fan. He enjoys discussing past matches with the audience or discussing Ronaldo and Messi during his broadcasts.
👨🦲 TimTheTatman
Timothy TimTheTatman Betar, an American streamer, started his career on Twitch, where he actively broadcast for almost ten years. In 2021 he signed an exclusive agreement with YouTube Gaming and switched to the new platform. Since that time, his channel has gained over 4.8 million subscribers.
Despite his brutal appearance, TimTheTatman has long had a reputation as a good-natured health-conscious guy. He rarely gets caught up in any scandals, but he participates in charity events (for example, for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital) and collaborations with other streamers. TimTheTatman likes to play shooters most of the time, but he prefers the Call of Duty series the most.
🧔♂️ DrDisrespect
DrDisrespect Baim is one of the most recognizable game streamers, who has gained worldwide popularity thanks to his fictional image as the “tough guy from the action movies of the 80s”. Baim always strictly follows his chosen image and behavior model, and his broadcasts are literally filled with testosterone and brutality. DrDisrespect loves shooters and “battle royale.” On his broadcasts, he most often plays Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Fortnite, Escape from Tarkov, and other titles.
Like Betar, DrDisrespect began his streaming career on Twitch, but in June 2020, his channel received an indefinite ban on the platform for an unknown reason. The proceedings are known to have gone to court, and eventually, nearly two years later, Baim and Twitch resolved all of their disputes with the help of lawyers. By then, DrDisrespect was already actively streaming on YouTube Gaming. His channel now has more than 4.2 million subscribers there.
🎯 Final Thoughts
YouTube game streaming has been making headlines for several reasons. One of the primary reasons is the exponential growth in the popularity of video game streaming as a form of entertainment. Millions of people worldwide tune in to watch their favorite gamers play video games, and this has led to a surge in demand for streaming platforms. However, since YouTube Live has a massive user base, it has the potential to reach a wider audience than other streaming platforms. That said, with the rise in popularity of YouTube streaming of gameplays, many gamers have been able to monetize their content and earn a significant income from their streams.
Download OneStream Mobile App.
OneStream Live is a cloud-based live streaming solution to create, schedule, and multistream professional-looking live streams across 45+ social media platforms and the web simultaneously. For content-related queries and feedback, write to us at [email protected]. You’re also welcome to Write for Us!
