Best Streaming Platforms For Gaming In 2024
by John Uke Last update: August 7, 2024
💡 Highlights
- The global revenue from game live streaming is projected to reach $18.41 billion by 2029.
- Some of the most popular platforms are Twitch, YouTube Gaming, TikTok, Kick, and others.
- Twitch has over 140+ million viewers and may be considered the best streaming platform for gaming and game promotion.
- YouTube Gaming is another popular streaming platform, with over 200 million users daily.
- Some platforms, like Kick, attract streamers and their fans by offering very low commissions.
- All of the reviewed platforms have their own pros and cons and can be considered for streaming or collaborating with creators.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, so do the game streaming platforms that let audiences worldwide witness gamers’ wins and losses. Now, dozens of such platforms cater to streamers’ and their fans’ different preferences and needs. Yet, when it comes to deciding which platform to choose for streaming, the choice is complicated. So, here’s GameTree‘s look at the top 10 game streaming platforms that are set to dominate this year, offering gamers and viewers a front-row seat to the action.
The Influence Of Live-Streaming On The Gaming Industry
Live streaming has significantly reshaped the gaming industry as a form of entertainment and a powerful marketing tool. According to Statista, the global revenue from game live streaming is projected to reach $18.41 billion by 2029, highlighting its growing influence.
Streamers showing off games in real time build hype and get the community buzzing, which means more visibility and sales. Nowadays, it’s all about having a strong streaming presence or teaming up with big-name streamers. Streaming platforms for gaming aren’t just a nice-to-have; they are a must for game marketing.
Top 10 Video Game Streaming Platforms That Dominate The Market In 2024
What is the best streaming platform for gaming? Most likely, you may think about Twitch or YouTube. Of course, these are the two main streaming platforms, and comments on Reddit confirm that. A bunch of streamers have channels on both platforms, plus some social networks. Yet, YouTube and Twitch have pros and cons for developers who want to promote their game through streaming. The list of streaming platforms with active communities is much longer, and below, I suggest you look at the top 10 that remain popular in 2024.
Twitch
Key features:
- Live streaming with low latency
- Interactive chat for real-time viewer engagement
- Monetization through ads, subscriptions, and donations
- Stream analytics and insights
- Integration with gaming consoles and streaming software
Twitch is unquestionably the best game streaming platform with 140+ million viewers focused on gaming content. Yet, it also supports a wide range of other live broadcasts, including music, art, and talk shows. All these types of content are highly valuable for promoting a new game or studio. With a giant community, user-friendly interface, and multi-platform support, Twitch allows streamers to connect with their audience in real-time.
You can acquire new users by developing cross-promotional incentives and influencer campaigns, utilizing Twitch Prime, and making game launches for pre-orders. Twitch allows creating a watch/play loop, incentivizing viewers to return to your game.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge and active user base | High competition due to platform popularity |
| Extensive monetization options | Strict community guidelines |
| Strong community support and interaction | Requires high-quality equipment for optimal streaming |
| High discoverability for new streamers | Toxic comments without proper moderation |
YouTube Gaming
Key features:
- Live streaming and video on demand (VOD)
- Monetization via ads, channel memberships, and Super Stickers
- Real-time chat and Super Chat for viewer interaction
- Custom thumbnails and detailed video descriptions
I can definitely say that YouTube is among the best gaming streaming platforms for promotion. YouTube Gaming is where YouTube gets its game on, bringing live game streaming and all other gaming-connected things under one roof. It’s tied right into regular YouTube, so you get a huge reach and tons of tools to make your streams pop.
With over 200 million users watching gaming content on YouTube daily, you’ve got a solid community and ways to make bank through ads, memberships, and Super Chats. Whether you’re dropping a Let’s Play or live streaming an epic showdown, YouTube Gaming is perfect for this.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large, established user base | High competition among content creators |
| High discoverability through YouTube’s algorithm | Requires high-quality content for visibility |
| Integration with broader YouTube content | Less gaming-focused community compared to Twitch |
Kick
Key features:
- High-quality live streaming
- Real-time interactive chat
- Easy monetization with subs and donations
- Stream analytics and insights
- Customizable channel layouts
- Integration with popular streaming software
Kick is a fresh and rising star among gaming streaming platforms founded in 2022. The platform is very similar to Twitch and offers a space for gamers to share their adventures live. It has a slick interface built to help streamers grow with easy-to-use tools and features. Kick focuses on creating a friendly community and giving creators solid ways to earn. The platform became extremely popular because of its 95/5 earnings split for streamers. Content creators keep 95% of earnings from subscriptions. Due to this generous offer, Kick managed to attract some top streamers and get a rise in viewers from 5 million to 12 million in one month.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly interface | Smaller user base compared to giants like Twitch and YouTube Gaming |
| Strong support for new streamers | Limited features compared to more established platforms |
| Fantastic monetization options | Needs more time to build a larger audience |
| Growing community |
TikTok
Key features:
- High-quality live streaming
- Short, engaging video highlights
- Real-time chat with viewers
- Easy editing tools
TikTok is not just for dance videos and memes; it’s also a game streaming platform. If you’re into quick, snappy content, TikTok lets you stream your gameplay, show off highlights, and share behind-the-scenes moments. With its massive user base and viral potential, this social media platform with an enormous audience of gamers is a goldmine for developers wanting to blow up. TikTok’s algorithms promote content with high engagement, allowing you to show your game to a million users for free.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge and diverse audience | Focused on shorter content |
| High chance of going viral | Not great for long gaming sessions |
| Super easy to use | Tough competition for attention |
| Perfect for short, fun content | Poor monetization options |
Facebook Gaming
Key features:
- Seamless Facebook integration
- Monetization tools
- Interactive live chat
This platform lets you broadcast your gameplay straight to your Facebook audience. With easy setup, interactive chat, and all the monetization perks you could dream of, it’s great for growing your audience. But let’s be honest, Facebook Gaming is not the first place that comes to mind when you think about video game streaming platforms. In fact, its audience of gamers has decreased almost three times in 2 years. So, I would advise you to use Facebook Gaming for maintaining popularity, but not for game promotion from scratch.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge audience | High competition |
| Diverse monetization options | Being part of Meta might raise some privacy concerns |
| Community building | Algorithm dependence |
| Cross-platform flexibility | Decreasing popularity among the gaming community |
Dlive
Key features:
- Decentralized platform
- Blockchain-based rewards
- Interactive chat and emotes
- Customizable stream layouts
Dlive is making waves in the streaming world with its decentralized approach powered by blockchain technology. Unlike traditional game streaming platforms, Dlive operates without taking a cut of your earnings, allowing you to keep 100% of your tips and rewards. With interactive chat integration and customizable stream layouts, you can create a unique experience for your viewers. Plus, Dlive supports streaming from multiple devices, making it a flexible option for streamers.
However, keep in mind that this platform is focused on genuinely new and innovative content. Thus, your game should be groundbreaking for tech enthusiasts and gamers who follow Dlive streams. If you’re developing an exciting online co-op game for making friends e and building a community around it, you may try Dlive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No platform fees | Smaller user base |
| Interactive feature | Understanding blockchain might be challenging |
| Customizable layouts | Community-driven support can be inconsistent |
| Streaming from various devices | Potential for technical difficulties since it’s a new platform |
Steam.TV
Key features:
- Integrated Steam ecosystem
- Interactive streaming
- Game integration
- Events and tournaments
- Developer tools
SteamTV is Valve’s creation, perfect for gamers and developers of PC games. It’s built right into Steam, so you can stream your games, connect with your team via an integrated voice chat, watch others, and interact with the community all in one place. If you want to show off your game or just hang out and play, this game streaming site has got you covered. Additionally, you may drive your traffic and increase your sales and visibility by using special streaming events, like unique promotions and launches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Seamless integration | Limited reach beyond Steam users |
| Massive user base | Learning curve |
| Monetization opportunities | High competition |
| Interactive features | |
| High-quality streams |
NimoTV
Key features:
- Interactive chat
- Virtual gifts
- Streamer rewards
- Community events
- Exclusive game content
NimoTV, launched in 2018, has quickly grown into one of the best live streaming platforms for gaming for developers and gamers. With millions of active users worldwide, NimoTV remains in the streaming platform market. Whether you’re a seasoned streamer or just starting out, it’s designed to make streaming fun and engaging. And still, NimoTV is kind of a niche platform. Its popularity is slowly decreasing, though it has 150+ million active users.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use | Not so popular compared to bigger platforms |
| Great monetization options | Some features behind a paywall |
| High-quality streams | Occasional lag issues |
| Multi-language support | |
| High-quality streams |
Caffeine.TV
Key features:
- Real-time interaction
- Social broadcasting
- Customizable streams
- Mobile app
- Exclusive shows and events
Caffeine.TV is another place to stream games, launched in 2018. It offers a fresh and interactive take on this type of entertainment. With a focus on real-time engagement and low-latency streams, Caffeine.TV has carved out a niche in the streaming world. It boasts a growing audience of gamers, artists, and entertainers. The platform stands out with its easy-to-use interface and social broadcasting features, making it flawless for gamers and developers who want to connect with their audience more interactively.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Instant engagement with viewers | Smaller audience compared to other platforms |
| No ads interrupting streams | Limited monetization options |
| User-friendly interface | Can be less feature-rich for gamers |
| Strong social media integration | |
| Low-latency for real-time interaction |
Bigo Live
Key features:
- Interactive chat
- Virtual gifts
- Multi-guest rooms
- Streamer rewards
- Game-centric streams
Bigo Live, dropped in 2016, is now one of the popular game streaming platforms. It’s got all kinds of content, from gaming to social stuff and creative streams. With millions of users worldwide, Bigo Live is really nice and full of action. Its interactive features, virtual gifts, and multi-guest rooms make it a standout. If you’re a gamer or dev wanting to reach a big crowd and increase social engagement within your audience, Bigo Live is the spot.
This streaming platform will be great for collaboration with influencers. They can create authentic reviews and gameplay demonstrations, boosting your game’s popularity.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Diverse content options | Highly competitive |
| Great monetization features | Some content moderation issues |
| High-quality streams | Features behind paywalls |
| Mobile app support | Can be overwhelming for new users |
Find Your Audience With GameTree
If you’re working on the promotion of your new game, making it famous on game streaming platforms is not the only marketing activity you should plan. Try the GameTree promotional program to target the right audience and match your unique game product with dedicated players. With our AI-based algorithms, we help players find releases they will most likely enjoy, so your game will be offered to the audience that will quickly become your loyal fan base. Our promotional program offers a full set of tools and services that help to boost your game visibility, making it recognizable and sensational. We promote games in different genres, from indie gems to AAA titles. Start the cooperation and grow up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Streaming Platform For Gaming?
Twitch remains the best and biggest streaming platform for gaming. Twitch has it all – high video quality, monetization options, interactive chat, and a colossal audience.
What Is The Most Watched Game Streaming Platform?
Twitch remains the most watched platform, which makes it the best place to stream games.
What Do Most Gamers Stream On?
Most gamers use Twitch, YouTube, and Kick game streaming platforms.
