In the entertainment industry, the face of gaming is undergoing rapid change. Behaviours across the diverse range of gaming platforms are adapting to the digital surge that is taking place across the planet and the transition to digital-based entertainment is being further driven by other forces at play in the online realm.
Live streamers have been active since the 1990’s but the activity was given a significant boost in June 2011 with the release of the streaming platform Twitch. A new wave of live streamers was suddenly given the platform to broadcast their online gaming antics and since 2011, Twitch has established itself as the number one outlet for live game streaming.
The growth of live streaming also created a new genre of content for online audiences to view and follow. Whether it was to pass time, learn more about a specific game, learn tricks from more experienced players or to watch competitive action, live streams formed a new legion of viewership and slowly brought a new immediacy to the way online gamers could access games and gaming content, while also adding new layers of participation.
Besides pure viewing of multiplayers battles on Call of Duty or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the online gaming community can also interact with live Q&A’s, take part in polls or even place bets on online action, especially in the growing Esports market. With the presence of live, real-time gaming given a boost by online streaming, the expectations of players have also shifted towards one that is more prepared for new forms of digital entertainment entering the market.
Streaming Paving the Way for Online Entertainment
Since live, online gaming action was brought into the public eye by streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Kick, more gamers have entered the realm of online gaming, aided by the digital drive that is slowly persuading more people into the online world. With more online entertainment housed under the same roof with gaming options that overlap with similar programming DNA, online entertainment avenues are diversifying quickly, adding more options to a constantly evolving market.
Beyond traditional streaming platforms, similar mechanics are emerging in online casinos, with the most innovative online casino platforms experimenting with bet‑along features tied to live‑streamed gameplay. Online casinos, which fall under the iGaming umbrella have emerged as one of the most popular avenues of digital entertainment in recent years and with gamers able to access content or online game play much more readily, the community has become more expectant.
The standards of online game play have been raised by avenues such as streaming and online casino play and because of the growing expectations. Game developers and designers are under increasing pressure to produce new innovative ideas to unleash on a waiting audience. Furthermore, the growing influence of digital devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets has given the popularity of live and online gaming greater impetus. But whichever new innovations enter the market, one thing is for sure, they will continue to be driven by live streamers that hold the power of expectation on their channels.
