Twitch: what it is, how it works and how to use it

Surely you have heard of Twitch. In recent years it has become one of the most followed platforms ever, especially for video game enthusiasts.

If you want to find out what it is, how it works, and how to use it, both as a creator and as a user, you will find everything you need in this article. From account registration to the cost of the subscription, we’ll follow you step by step.

What is Twitch

Twitch is a live video streaming platform owned by Amazon. The platform has gained popularity as one of the leading streaming services for gamers around the world, but today it offers live and on-demand content of various types: music, sports, travel, food, fashion, talk shows, etc.

On Twitch, streamers broadcast their content or gaming sessions live, interacting with viewers through a chat. Users can not only watch other people play games in real time but also actively participate in the conversation, share opinions, ask questions, and support streamers through subscriptions, donations, and community interactions.

But how was this platform born? Twitch was launched for the first time in 2011 from the offshoot of Justin.tv, a live streaming site founded in 2007 by Justin Kan and Emmett Shear (CEO of Twitch) as a platform that offered content in live streaming 24/7. Although it had many sections, the gaming section was the one with the highest growth. For this reason, 4 years after its birth, Justin.tv separated the section dedicated to games on the site, called Twitch.tv. Since then it has become a leading platform in eSports broadcasts and also expanded further than that. On August 25, 2014 Twitch was bought by Amazon for $970 million.

How does Twitch work

Streamers, those who want to share their content live, use streaming software like OBS Studio or XSplit. These programs allow streamers to capture their screen or game video source and broadcast it to Twitch.

Once everything is set up, streamers start their broadcast by pressing a button. Right now, everything that appears on their screen or their camera (depending on the content) is broadcast in real time on Twitch.

When you watch a live stream or broadcast on Twitch, a split-screen display lets you see what the streamer sees on their monitor. You will also be able to listen to and watch it in a small window. While viewing a Twitch stream you can comment together with other viewers and interact with questions, suggestions, etc. Twitch also saves streams: so if you can’t watch the live broadcast you can recover it later.

There are various devices from which you can watch Twitch:

• from PC and Mac on the official website;
• via app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets;
• on game console PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and NVIDIA Shield;
• on Smart TV via HDMI cable, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Roku.

The Evolution of Twitch

Twitch has undergone a remarkable process of evolution over the years, implementing new features and expanding its offering to respond to the needs and emerging dynamics of its vast community.

Initially, the platform was free and was mainly focused on games. Over time, it has expanded its offering by introducing new categories to allow streamers to broadcast content outside the world of video games, such as categories of art, music, cooking, and much more.

In partnership with Amazon, Twitch launched Twitch Prime, offering premium benefits to Amazon Prime members, including free games, loot, and free monthly subscriptions to Twitch channels.

The platform has broadcast software that makes it easier for novice streamers to create high-quality live content: Twitch Studio. It also introduced “Stories,” a feature that allows streamers to post short videos and temporary content, as is done on other social media platforms.

How to sign up for Twitch

The minimum age required to use Twitch is 13 years and users between the ages of 13 and 18 may only use the platform under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

To watch live broadcasts on Twitch from the Web version there is no need to register on the platform: you can watch everything without an account. However, if you want to have the ability to stream or follow and support your favorite streamers and interact in chat during live sessions, you need to sign up.

Here’s how to sign up for Twitch:

• go to the site and click on Sign up;
• enter the required data (Username, Password, Confirm password, Date of birth, and email) and click on the “Sign Up” button.

If you use Twitch from the app for Android, iPhone, and iPad devices, you should know that even just to watch live broadcasts you need an account.

But is Twitch free? The answer is yes. To access the basic functions of the platform, such as watching all live broadcasts, following streamers, participating in chats, and streaming, you do not need to pay a subscription. The contents are free, but there is advertising. To avoid this limit you can subscribe. Below we see how much the Twitch subscription costs and how it works.

How much does it cost to subscribe to Twitch?

Those who want to watch Twitch without ads and have access to other features can subscribe to Twitch Prime, or Prime Gaming.

To have it you must register with Amazon Prime, Amazon’s subscription service priced at $14.99 or $139 per year. With a 30-day free trial, Amazon Prime allows you to have fast deliveries in 1-2 days, access to Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Music, Prime Now, Prime Photos, and a catalog of free e-books with Amazon Prime Reading.

Prime Gaming is also included with Amazon Prime. This offers numerous benefits for viewers, including a monthly channel subscription.

Alternatively, users who want to can support streamers with sub (monthly channel subscriptions) in exchange for rewards such as custom emoticons, subscriber badges, ad-free videos, and other benefits determined by the streamer. The available subscriptions are:

• $4.99 per month: this type of subscription offers supporters various benefits, such as personalized emoticons, distinctive badges, and access to exclusive channel content;
• $9.99 per month: offers all the benefits of the basic level, plus additional emoticons and other channel-specific features;
• $24.99 per month: Includes all the benefits of previous levels, with additional custom emoticons and channel-specific privileges.

Finally, another way to support your favorite streamer is to purchase bit, Twitch virtual goods that can be purchased with real money via PayPal or Amazon Payments. When the viewer uses them, bit gem emoticons appear in the chat. For every bit used in the chat, the streamer receives $0.01.

How to stream on Twitch

If you want to start streaming on Twitch you must first create an account. We have seen above how to do it. Don’t forget to enable two-factor authentication to protect your account. Then carefully read the Community Guidelines and the Conditions for using the service.

Customize your channel: from the Web version you can change your profile photo and biography, insert links to your social networks, and set a streaming schedule to let viewers know your times.

As for the hardware and software requirements to stream on Twitch without problems, transmitting a live stream of excellent video and audio quality, just read the platform’s instructions here.

You need a desktop or laptop that can deliver solid performance and quickly encode audio and video. Furthermore, a piece of advice is to equip yourself with a good microphone and an external webcam in case the webcam integrated into the computer is not of good quality, to which you can add a ring light if you need greater lighting.

When you broadcast from a computer, you have several options for starting a live on Twitch. The easiest solution is to download Twitch Studio. Three other popular choices among broadcasters are the third-party tools OBS, Streamlabs OBS, and Xsplit.

How to make money on Twitch

There are various ways creators and streamers can monetize on Twitch. Indeed, the platform can represent an important source of income. We think that the most followed streamers, like Ninja just to mention the most famous of all with more than 17 million followers, earn millions of dollars a year with this activity.

Here’s how to make money on Twitch.

• Subscriptions (sub). When a user decides to subscribe to the channel, 50% goes to the streamer.
• Bits. Each Bit is worth 1 cent.
• Advertising. As happens on YouTube, advertisements are also inserted on Twitch during live broadcasts. It is difficult to estimate how much streamers earn on Twitch through ads because the amount varies depending on the country you are in, the number of viewers, the popularity of the streamer, etc.
• Donations. Donations can be received on Twitch using cryptocurrencies, PayPal accounts, or bits.
• Sponsorships. Brands pay streamers to promote a game, app, or product, or to use their PCs and equipment. In many cases, companies also pay streamers commissions for each item sold through their stream.

How much can you earn with Twitch

There is no fixed amount that streamers can earn. The figures vary considerably based on the quantity of followers and spectators who watch the live shows.

Here are the estimated figures based on the average number of spectators:

5/10 viewers: from $50 to 200 per month;
20 spectators: from $200 to 400 per month;
50 viewers: from $500 to 750 per month;
100 viewers: from $1,000 to 1,500 per month;
1,000 viewers: $5,000 per month ;
5,000 viewers: $13,000 per month;
10,000 viewers: $30,000 per month;
50,000 viewers: from $100,000 to more than $200,000 per month.

Twitch: news for 2024

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy announced that the platform will undergo significant improvements. In particular, the company will focus on:

• general transmission improvement;
• mobile app improvement: “We’re building a responsive and engaging feed (so) that when you go to the mobile app, you’ll get to live content,” this is what Clancy says about it.
• prioritize external collaborations: encouraging collaborations and helping streamers grow on the platform is among Twitch’s 2024 goals;
• clip editor improvement: to help streamers create their content more easily.

Original article published on Money.it Italy 2024-01-14 14:01:02. Original title: Twitch: cos’è, come funziona e come usarlo