When Twitch began to gain a following in the 2010s, most of the attention was on digital gaming. After all, the platform developed as a way to create and foster gaming-first communities. Streamers chose their favorite titles to play live for subscribers, who could interact with them through chat features.
The platform has proved to be a winning formula for gaming and streaming ever since—and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. However, as Twitch becomes more mainstream (alongside eSports), more and more users are flexing their own streaming capabilities. Gamers and subscribers who wouldn’t have thought to create their own channels are now getting creative on the platform.
Though gaming niches have been present on Twitch since its earliest days, a few new categories are starting to see more attention from users. Can you name four of this year’s brand-new gaming trends on the platform? Dive in below.
Blackjack Joins Poker
Poker has been at the heart of digital gaming for decades. Back in the 1990s, online poker rooms were some of the very first international gaming websites available online. The online poker boom in the early 2000s helped cement poker as a global pastime… but what about blackjack?
While poker has been a popular category on Twitch for the last few years, blackjack is now starting to gain steam, as well. This is, in part, thanks to the rise of new variations on the classic, including 21+3 blackjack. 21+3 blackjack combines elements of poker into the game, which has made it popular for fans of both games.
As a strategy game that’s heavy on mathematics, blackjack is popular for fans of logic and hardboiled tactics. But it’s that ever-present element of chance that makes it so entertaining for viewers.
Tabletop RPGs Become Inclusive
Poker and blackjack have benefitted from digital formats. In other words, the games can be played in-person or virtually, which makes them easier to stream for creators on Twitch. However, tabletop RPGs are also seeing added attention from both streamers and subscribers.
Specifically, Dungeons & Dragons has taken off. Channels that focus on D&D are most popular on the weekends, as most subscribers have time off work to join live play. Here, the emphasis is on building a community and then getting everyone involved via chats to contribute to the game. Think of it like an MMO tabletop version of digital RPGs.
Mobile Games for Mobile Twitch
Gamers who follow the latest trends likely know that mobile gaming is now the biggest (and most lucrative) sector of the industry. Unsurprisingly, Twitch has taken note of this and, as of January 2022, launched a mobile app. The mobile app has made it easier for hosts to stream mobile games—which more and more subscribers want to see.
This has led to new technology, like the mobile app Lightstream, which allows hosts to live stream their exploits straight from a mobile device. Some of the most popular mobile games include League of Legends: Wild Rift, Garena Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile. In addition to added interest in mobile gaming, streamers are also pivoting toward mobile because setup demands are minimal compared to a traditional PC or console stream.
VR Takeover
Mobile games have shaken up the entire gaming industry, and, looking ahead, advancements in AR technology are expected to keep the focus on them. However, advancements in VR have also injected new life into gaming and, more specifically, into Twitch. Now that VR headsets are more affordable and functional, there are more VR-based Twitch streams than ever before.
The most popular sector within Twitch VR streams is VRChat. VRChat is hyper-casual, allowing subscribers to watch their favorite streamer navigate a series of wild social interactions on the anonymous platform. However, there are still challenges that VR streamers are facing. Unlike mobile gaming, VR streaming requires added technical and infrastructural demands. This means streamers aren’t able to jump into VR streaming quite as easily as other hosts.
This is a paid guest post.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
