Twitch has recently implemented a policy aimed at eliminating bots from its platform, a measure that, while positive for many users, has highlighted the magnitude of the inflated audience figures that existed. A report from Stream Charts has revealed that tens of millions of viewing hours were misleading, which has sparked an intense debate among streamers, advertisers, and the community at large. No more bots on Twitch. Prominent streamers like xQc and Rubius have stated that the removal of these bots has led to a significant drop in their audience numbers, which […]
Twitch has recently implemented a policy aimed at eliminating bots from its platform, a measure that, while positive for many users, has highlighted the magnitude of the inflated audience figures that existed. A report from Stream Charts has revealed that tens of millions of hours of views were misleading, which has generated intense debate among streamers, advertisers, and the community at large.
No more bots on Twitch
Notable streamers like xQc and Rubius have claimed that the removal of these bots has led to a significant drop in their audience numbers, raising doubts about the accuracy of previous popularity metrics. According to Rubius, this could lead advertisers to hesitate in sponsoring streamers, as they may now question the authenticity of the interaction with their content.
The report indicates that more than 40,000 channels have been affected, with around 4,400 showing anomalous activity. It is estimated that in the second quarter of 2025, one in six channels relied on audience manipulation through bots, generating more than 30 million hours of false views. This situation has revealed a dark side of streaming that many would prefer to have kept hidden.
For its part, the Kick platform is facing similar problems, with over 3,000 channels attacked by bots, where one in six viewers identifies as such. Apparently, some streamers have paid up to 20,000 dollars a week for the use of these bots. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kick has not issued any official response regarding this, which could worsen the crisis of confidence in this emerging platform.
2020 was the best possible year to launch a streaming service: everyone was stuck at home, wanting to entertain themselves in some way. For example, Disney+ took the opportunity to launch its service on March 24, and shortly after, on April 6, Quibi would do the same, an app that promised to kill Netflix by offering something they couldn’t: short-format series to watch while waiting for the bus or when you have five minutes to spare. Because, let’s be realistic, who has an hour to watch Black Mirror or Stranger Things? Quibi, not kiwi The founder of Quibi, Jeffrey Katzenberg, was not […]
2020 was the best possible year to launch a streaming service: everyone was stuck at home, wanting to entertain themselves in some way. For example, Disney+ took the opportunity to launch its service on March 24, and shortly after, on April 6, Quibi would do the same, an app that promised to kill Netflix by offering something they couldn’t: short-format series to watch while waiting for the bus or when you have five minutes to spare. Because, let’s be realistic, who has an hour to watch Black Mirror or Stranger Things?
Quibi, not kiwi
The founder of Quibi, Jeffrey Katzenberg, was not a nobody in Hollywood, far from it: he was the director of Walt Disney Studios for ten years, founded Dreamworks, and after two decades of success, he decided to try his next sure step towards becoming one of the most respected names in the industry: having his own streaming service. “Quibi” came from “Quick Bites” and never really resonated with the international audience. Despite the fact that, as TikTok has shown, the idea wasn’t bad.
We all have TikTok in our pockets, and we all spend hours and hours scrolling endlessly. Why not spend the time we spend watching recipes we will never make and mountain plans we won’t join… on watching series produced by a studio that have invested a good amount of money? Moreover, with a variety of options: the idea of Quibi was that you could watch any program vertically, but when you changed the position of the phone, the margins would expand and you could watch the same series in classic format. And whether you like it or not, in the middle of 2025, it still seems like a pretty incredible idea to me.
In one week, 1,700,000 people downloaded Quibi and took advantage of its 90-day free trial, but very few (estimated at 8%) ended up subscribing. In fact, one month after the launch, it was already in 125th place among the most downloaded apps on iPhone, and it continued to drop, with only 1,300,000 active users. And who did they blame? Well, of course, COVID. They had some reason; it was an app designed for urban life in the modern period of humanity when more people have stayed home without going out. And of course, when given the choice, a big TV with powerful sound will always be better than figuring out what’s happening on your little mobile screen.
Failbi
The original idea of Quibi was that it would only work on your smartphone, but they soon realized that if they wanted to succeed, they had no choice but to pivot, and they launched the possibility of watching series on television thanks to Chromecast or AirPlay, but it was already too late, the internet had made all the possible memes, no one gave a chance to their original content, and little by little it sank deeper and deeper. On October 21, just half a year after its launch, its closure was announced, leaving its nearly 500,000 subscribers worldwide devastated. To give you an idea, Netflix has around 300 million. Those were not good numbers, no.
On December 1st, the service finally closed its doors and some of the series were bought and aired by other services. In its defense, the ideas weren’t bad (although it was evident that the production was cheap). Things like 50 States of Fright -which had 2 seasons and episodes directed by the one and only Sam Raimi-, the reboot of The Fugitive, an episodic and at-home recreation of The Princess Bride, a documentary about Kirby Jenner (Kendall’s sister) or season 7 of Reno 911! had their audience. Small, but an audience nonetheless.
Of the dozens of projects announced -among which there was, for example, a series directed by Steven Spielberg– nothing more was heard. In fact, it is quite surprising that, of the billion dollars spent on creating original content, not a single dollar managed to stay in people’s minds or in popular culture. Quibi came offering something very different and aimed to reign, but it encountered the most uncomfortable truth of all: it simply did not understand anything that was happening around it and ended up being one of the most amusing victims of the streaming tyranny. Would it have been different without COVID? Frankly, with such a crazy idea and TikTok being free, it’s hard to imagine.
Elden Ring players have recently discovered the first boss of the Nightreign update, known as Everdark Sovereign. This new enemy, part of the ‘enhanced bosses’ mentioned by FromSoftware, offers rewards through a currency called Sovereign Sigils, which will be used to acquire powerful relics and skins from a new NPC located in Roundtable Hold. A boss that drops more than desirable rewards To face the Everdark Sovereign, players must presumably defeat his normal version first. Streamers like Oroboro have already shown that it is possible to take on this formidable rival solo, although it has been reported […]
Elden Ring players have recently discovered the first boss of the Nightreign update, known as Everdark Sovereign. This new enemy, part of the ‘enhanced bosses’ mentioned by FromSoftware, offers rewards through a currency called Sovereign Sigils, which will be used to acquire powerful relics and skins from a new NPC located in Roundtable Hold.
A boss who gives out more than desirable rewards
To face the Everdark Sovereign, players must presumably defeat its normal version first. Streamers like Oroboro have already shown that it is possible to confront this formidable rival solo, although it has been reported that the fight becomes more complicated when entering its second phase, where it unleashes tornadoes in the arena that must be dodged.
By defeating the boss, players obtain Sovereign Sigils, which allow them to purchase valuable relics at lower prices than those handled with the previous Murk currency. Additionally, this new NPC grants players the ability to directly initiate Shifting Earth events, a feature that previously required defeating three Nightlords, thus providing greater control over the game’s content.
With the update still fresh, FromSoftware has not provided details about other bosses that could be introduced in the future, leaving fans speculating about what is to come. This silence in official communication has kept players on edge, who are eagerly awaiting future updates that could expand the experience within the world of Elden Ring.
Meanwhile, the new NPC also allows players to make a small payment of sigils to receive alternative versions of relic rewards and light up the room in the expedition hall at Roundtable Hold, providing more options for interaction in this key space of the game.
What will life be like for a streamer with millions of followers? We have all asked ourselves this question at some point. UPLAY Online has announced the release of Youtubers Life 3 – Stream Together!, a new installment of its popular franchise that will allow players to dive even deeper into the vibrant world of content creators. This third installment is expected for PC in 2025 and promises to expand the management experience that has characterized its predecessors, which have sold over 2.5 million copies. The tough life of influencers In Youtubers Life 3, players […]
What will life be like for a streamer with millions of followers? We have all asked ourselves this question at some point. UPLAY Online has announced the launch of Youtubers Life 3 – Stream Together!, a new installment of its popular franchise that will allow players to immerse themselves even more in the vibrant world of content creators. This third installment is expected for PC in 2025 and promises to expand the management experience that has characterized its predecessors, which have sold over 2.5 million copies.
In Youtubers Life 3, players will take on the role of streamers in a battle to reach the peak of popularity on the Internet. They must create viral content, upgrade their equipment, and attend exclusive events, all while trying to build a solid reputation in a competitive environment. This installment introduces a significant novelty: a global ranking system that allows players to compete against each other using an online card game. This gameplay mechanic not only adds a layer of challenge but also encourages community interaction.
Game enthusiasts will be able to enjoy a broad experience that reflects the real-world challenges of being a content creator. From managing their channels to attract a larger number of followers to making deals with brands, players will see how their decisions impact the growth of their popularity. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to transform their simple room into a luxurious mansion with a pool, adding an element of customization that many fans will enjoy.
Developers have promised that Youtubers Life 3 will not only provide fun but also offer lessons about the hard reality of being an influencer. With the game on the horizon, fans of the franchise can already mark their calendars and prepare for what could be another viral phenomenon in the world of video games.
He puts on videos or movies that he wants and, at least on paper, he comments on them. The problem is that it obviously doesn’t.
Surely you’ve seen one of those videos where a streamer or YouTuber reacts to another video in complete silence, acting as a mere spectator. Apparently, that’s considered valid content in 2023: duplicating what someone else has done and adding nothing more than occasional monosyllabic expressions of approval. The problem arises when this “content creator” is confronted. This is exactly what happened to xQc, one of Twitch‘s top five most influential streamers, who revealed his true colors when appearing on a podcast to discuss, ironically, copyright and content.
xQc appeared on the H3 Podcast precisely to discuss protected content and copyright, and he did so in a manner that, frankly, isn’t what you’d expect from someone well beyond their teenage years. When the host pointed out that the original videos received fewer views each time he posted a reaction to them, Lengyel responded with stammering, until the most embarrassing and unbelievable moment imaginable arrived.
The streamer took off his headphones, said, “People would rather watch me do the damn worm,” and proceeded to crawl on the ground for a cringe-inducing few seconds, only to end it by asking, “How about that, idiots?” Shortly after, H3 Podcast cut his connection, stating that it was clear he had nothing interesting to contribute from the moment he started acting foolishly instead of engaging in a debate.
During the discussion, host Ethan Klein, who became famous precisely for his reaction videos and won a lawsuit because they were deemed transformative enough to become something quite distinct, made xQc admit that he’s “not particularly concerned” about the legality of the matter and that those videos were “non-transformative crap.” Not bad for someone who pulls in $94,000 a month just from those videos. Perhaps doing the worm wouldn’t bring him as much profit as he believes, right?
The streamer had announced his presence there on social media and on his own Twitch channel… but hadn’t said anything to the authorities, who suddenly found themselves with 2,000 people they didn’t know how to handle.
For those of us who have only done a couple of test streams on Twitch, the mere idea of someone giving you money for talking in front of a camera is magic. Well, streamer Kai Cenat managed to achieve 306,621 active subscriptions in March, the biggest record in the platform’s history, and to celebrate, he caused such a commotion in the middle of New York that he might end up in jail for it. Well done, Kai Cenat.
Turns out, the 21-year-old streamer, known for chatting with rappers and celebrities beyond his ‘GTA’ or ‘NBA’ streams, announced on August 4th that he would make a surprise appearance in New York, giving away several PS5 consoles, computers, and hundred-dollar gift cards, just like MrBeast, the well-known streamer. The problem is that, well, MrBeast plans everything quite well. Kai… not so much.
Even before he realized it, 2,000 people were waiting for him in Union Square, with the police lurking and tensions rising for a simple reason: the streamer had announced his presence there on social media and his own Twitch channel… but hadn’t informed the authorities, who suddenly found themselves dealing with 2,000 people they didn’t know how to handle. In fact, they started using tear gas to disperse the crowd, while Cenat was urging everyone to stay safe.
No one really understands what was going through his mind: as soon as he stepped out of the building, he was surrounded by fans, and the police quickly put him in a car and took him to a safe place while his audience tore down barricades, emptied fire extinguishers, and turned the center of New York into a literal Level 4 danger zone battlefield.
The result? Several injured citizens, Kai Cenat in custody (and likely a not-so-distant trial for “inciting a riot”), and alongside him, a whole busload of people who went overboard for a PS5 given away by their favorite internet celebrity. You know the slogan “Stop making stupid people famous”? Well, there you have it.
Now it’s the turn of & ‘Only Up!’, a very frustrating buggy title based on going as high as you can that is living its five seconds of fame (and taking advantage of them as much as possible).
It’s not surprising to see a game seemingly appear out of nowhere and suddenly everyone wants to try it, thanks to Twitch and streamers. ‘Fall Guys,’ ‘Among Us,’ or even ‘Fortnite’ owe their fame, even if it’s often overnight, to their status as “the trendy video game.” Now it’s the turn of ‘Only Up!’, a title full of frustrating bugs and based on climbing as high as possible, which is experiencing its five seconds of fame (and making the most of it).
The game was released on Steam on May 24th with modest intentions (priced at around 7 euros during sales), but barely a month later, it had already surpassed 250,000 Twitch views across over 11,000 channels simultaneously, and the numbers kept rising. All the Spanish streamers have played it, from Ibai to Rubius, and even TheGrefg. For a few days, the frustration caused by such a simple game has captivated the entire community in a time that everyone assumed would be dominated by ‘Final Fantasy XVI.’
It makes sense: a game that causes frustration, which in turn can lead to exaggerated screams and various reactions. It’s like Valhalla for Twitch, which greatly appreciates extremes. Keep in mind that the game doesn’t have save points, so if you fall and fail to grab onto one of the protruding platforms, you have to start from scratch again, much to the amusement of the chats and the terror of the streamers.
The game truly delivers on its promise: you start at the bottom, and your objective is to reach the top while navigating through a stage filled with obstacles and bugs that make it challenging to control your jumps. It’s pure absurd tension in a game that could have easily been forgotten, but instead, it has climbed its way up to becoming one of the top 50 best-selling games on Steam in no time. They have definitely made a more than sufficient return on their investment.
The beauty of the internet is that you never know what the next big thing will be: today it’s a game about reaching the highest point and uncovering the secret ending, which some can achieve in just 15 minutes through insane speedruns. Tomorrow, it could be something entirely different. The key is to allow ourselves to be surprised and keep moving forward, always aiming higher, no matter how absurd it may seem.
