It’s pretty clear that this move was geared at incentivising larger creators to stay on the platform, especially those that have been contemplating a jump to services like YouTube, which already has a 70/30 split, and Kick, which has a 95/5 split. Both have their own share of issues, with YouTube having a problem picking up steam with big streamers, and Kick being anethical minefield that is somehow morally more evil than an Amazon-owned company. The program essentially gives top streamers the chance to make what they used to make, except with a cap. Meanwhile, smaller streamers are left in the lurch, and many feel ignored by a platform that takes half their income without valuing their role in Twitch’s success.
It’s tragic that a company that makes all of its money off streamers is treating them this way, but it’s not surprising – after all, this is a business we’re talking about. It is not, as much as streamers hope they will be, creator-focused. It is profit-focused. During a livestream about the new program, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy said “We have a job here, which is to do whatever we can for you while running this business sustainably over time.” It seems that not even being owned by Amazon is enough to ensure this website stays sustainable. It’s a bad look for Twitch, the biggest streaming platform in the world.
