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Botted Metrics, Multi-Platform Streaming, and Top Headlines: Navigating the 2025 Gaming Landscape

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Contents:

📊 Botted Metrics: The New Norm?

Another week another botting scandal. FPS content creator @Inhuman, among others, exposed Avalanche’s flagship FPS shooter Off The Grid for artificially inflating its player count this week. My first reaction was honestly exhaustion, I wasn't even sure if this was worth putting in this article because of how desensitized gamers are to these occurrences.

We're living in an era where inflated metrics, fake engagement, and manufactured hype are literally the default playbook, not the exception. What used to feel like industry shaking news is literally just another Tuesday now.

But why?

  • Social Media Bubbles - Every metric is a marketing tool now

  • Investors DGAF - Most backers still can't tell the difference between genuine engagement vs. bots and fake activity

  • We're The Problem - We all are getting more and more comfortable just accepting that this is the new norm

  • Inhuman also states: “The "dip" was caused by Steam maintenance disconnecting their bot farm. Servers turned back on, normal players trickled in, around ~400.”

    • “Then suddenly 10k players all at once, back to their 'constant' number. They don't even try to hide it.“

The best gaming experiences I've had this year came from titles with modest player counts but genuine effort and intention. I'm not dismissing games like Off The Grid, but as players, shouldn't we prioritize meaningful connections over manufactured hype?

🎥 Multi-Platform Streaming Landscape

Is it better to stick to live-streaming on one platform? Should I multi-stream to build audiences on other platforms? By broadcasting on multiple platforms simultaneously, streamers can access unique user bases that may not always overlap, like Twitch's gamer centric crowd, YouTube's long form fans, or TikTok's short form dopamine addicts. Multi-streaming simply empowers streamers to build a resilient, adaptable presence that thrives across ecosystems, ensuring long-term success.

Why Streamers Should Multi-stream (TLDR)

  • Wider Audience Reach: Increased visibility, potential follower growth

  • Diversified Revenue Streams: reducing reliance on a single platforms payout structure

  • Platform Instability Protection: minimize income disruption, technical issues, policy changes, bans, etc.

  • Flexibility in Community Building: Tailor content to diverse communities

  • Future Proofing: Adapt to shifting trends without starting from scratch

Many larger streamers (with huge sponsorships, and existing communities I might add) advocate sticking to one platform, believing it fosters loyalty, and maximizes algo based benefits. The truth is single-platform streaming builds deep engagement leveraging familiarity and consistency, but multi-streaming expands reach and mitigates risks like platform instability.

The 2 approaches align with different goals, loyalty vs. growth, allowing streamers to choose based on their priorities and where they are in their streaming career. Traditional streaming platforms prioritize established monetization and broad audience reach, while Web3 streaming platforms emphasize crypto-based incentives, offering streamers innovative ways to engage fans and align with career aspirations.

Traditional Live-Streaming Platforms

  • Casual & Regional Appeal: Despite Facebook gaming’s declining viewership, FB seamlessly blends gaming streams with FB’s 3.06B monthly users worldwide

    • Strong in Southeast Asia focusing on mobile and casual gaming

  • Groups & Marketplace: Unlike Twitch’s gaming focus or TikTok’s viral algorithm, FB community driven engagement comes from FB groups & FB marketplace

  • Generous Revenue Split: 95/5 Rev for subscriptions, significantly better than most platforms

  • Gambling Friendly: Fewer restrictions on casino streams and gambling compared to Twitch

  • Free Speech Emphasis: Prioritizes minimal content moderation, offering unfiltered political and news content

  • Unique Tipping System: Features “Rants” similar to Twitch Bits, 100% subscription revenue share

  • Viral Algorithm & Gift Monetization: For you page drives 8 billion hours watched (Q1 2025) surpassing Twitch’s 4.8 billion. Virtual gifts and LIVE Fan Clubs boost earnings for creators.

  • Gen-Z Appeal & Live Shopping: 1B+ mobile users, TikTok shop powers in-stream sales, unlike Twitch’s gaming focus or Web3 crypto based models.

  • Unmatched Community Tools: Thousands of official and community made plug-ins, game specific overlays, emotes, channel points, interactive chat, and much more

  • Gaming Dominance: 1.4 billion hours of live gaming watched (from June 26th-July 25th alone), despite slipping to 3rd in overall watch hours behind YouTube and TikTok.

  • Massive Non-Gaming Reach: Leads with 4.3 billion hours watched (from June 26th-July 25th alone), excelling in non-gaming content like sports, news, and IRL streams

  • Algorithm-Driven Discoverability: Powerful recommendation algo boosts visibility for new creators who properly label their streams/channels, unlike Twitch’s community driven growth model

  • Emerging Streaming Potential: X’s potential to combine Twitch like chat, YouTube’s VOD experience, Kick’s payout model, and features from various other platforms could make it a unique hybrid

  • Crypto Community Hub: Crypto twitter is the unrivaled home for all things regarding the crypto niche. Elon Musk’s pro crypto stance also amplifies X’s (crypto twitter) impact

Web3 vs Traditional Live-streaming

Platforms like Twitch, TikTok, Kick, Facebook Gaming, dominate with massive audiences and robust tools for engagement, catering to diverse niches from gaming to live shopping. However the operate within centralized ecosystems and limit creator control, revenue splits, and pretty much whatever else they want, whenever they want.

The Web3 streaming model promises decentralized ownership and innovative monetization. While traditional platforms are easy to use and reach huge audiences, Web3 streaming offers creators more control and freedom. We’ll dive into this creator-focused future in the next article!

🚨 ICYMI: Top Headlines & Highlights

Gaming News

Funding & Opportunities

Web3 & Blockchain

Thanks For Reading, Let’s Stay Connected!