According to the data analytics firm SuperData, the popularity of video game related streams and videos has eclipsed that of services like Hulu, Netflix, HBO, and ESPN.
A new report published by the firm says that as many as 666 million people tuned in to watch video game related content online in 2016, totaling more than the combined user base for the entertainment streaming services listed above.
While the growth of streaming sites and video game related videos have not gone unnoticed by game developers, SuperData’s report shows just how significant and influential these platforms have become in recent years.
The report says that 517 million viewers watched video game related content on YouTube in 2016, while another 175 million viewers watched on Twitch. According to SuperData, 30 percent of viewers are willing to make a monetary contribution to streamers or video makers as well through paid subscriptions or digital donations.
Roughly 46 percent of ‘gaming video content’ viewers are women, notes the report. Meanwhile, viewers are tuning in for both entertainment and educational purposes. While 33 percent of viewers watch streams and game-related videos for the skill of the player, the remaining two-thirds of viewers watch to learn more about titles they are interested in playing themselves.
