Technology

What is Twitch and how does it work?

The world of video games and streaming of virtual games has found in Twitch the perfect environment to grow. Currently, the rise of this platform translates into the enormous increase in content creators who open their channels, the large number of followers they accumulate and the number of visits they manage to add daily. Twitch has burst onto the scene of content platforms with great force, especially when it comes to video games. It is a revolution in this industry. But what does it really consist of? What accounts for your most recent success? To discover its history, what it is and how Twitch works , at OneHOWTO we recommend that you continue reading this article.

What is Twitch and what is it for

Twitch is very focused on the world of video games. It is a streaming video platform where you can find eSports broadcasts, a variety of games played by users and different events related to video games. In addition, it is considered as a social network or a community for fans of video games.

Although Twitch emerged in 2011 with the aim of transmitting and being able to watch videos about video games , over the years it has expanded its themes. In 2014, Amazon acquired it as property, further enhancing the diversity of topics in the platform’s content.

Currently, the platform has millions of users per month. Many of these users are looking to make money on Twitch through donations and the Twitch Partner Program.

Twitch History

To find the birth of Twitch, you have to go back to June 2011. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the beta version of Twitch was officially shown for the first time. It came to the market as a byproduct focused on electronic sports and belonging to Juntin.tv.

The name of the platform is inspired by the concept of twitch gameplay, which is used to refer to the time in which the players react. It was designed as an initiative to support the community of video game fans.

In just two years, that is, in mid-2013, the platform had more than 23 million views per month, registering an average of 90 minutes per day for each user visit. A year later, in 2014, Amazon bought Twitch for $970 million.

Although it touches different aspects, Twitch continues to have its greatest presence in video games. In 2020, it recorded some amazing statistics amassing an average of more than 15 million daily users, spread over almost 4 million channels.

All these figures allow us to affirm that Twitch is one of the streaming services par excellence. Part of its success is also in being a free content platform, although it has other paid services, Twitch is free since it only requires registration with a username, password and a linked email address.

How Twitch works

After creating your Twitch account, it is important that you know how it works to enjoy all the content it offers. As with other social networks, on this platform you can follow the users that interest you. Twitch will offer you certain accounts according to your tastes, but you can also search for them yourself by clicking on the Explore option available in the main menu. In each channel you can:

See users who are streaming
The followers and viewers you have
The possibility of following the channel and the corresponding category of the game
By clicking on the channels, you will be able to see the live broadcast whenever it is broadcasting at that moment

In addition, in the channels you follow you can access the chat to leave questions, comments and opinions during a broadcast. When you are watching some streaming and want to go to another Twitch option, the platform offers the possibility to watch the current video in PIP mode while accessing other options. In this way, you can have the video you were watching visible in a new floating window.

How Twitch Prime works

Amazon Prime includes the Twitch Prime option. The Prime label grants a series of special rights to users who opt for this alternative. In this case, it allows you to offer the possibility of subscribing to one channel per month at no additional cost to help and support your favorite streamers.

With Twitch Prime, you will have access to specific content and games . You’ll be able to chat with a chat badge, a members-only crown, and have the option to wear certain unique chat colors and emotes on Twitch.

Twitch Prime members can get exclusive loot for different games, a free subscription on Twitch.tv and benefit from the benefits offered by Amazon Prime. Do you know how much Twitch Prime is worth? You can try it for free for 30 days. After this time, the cost is €3.99 per month with the option to cancel your subscription at any time.

Varshil