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Last Updated:
2024-10-27 03:31:28

Twitch

Live streaming platform for gamers
Twitch
Twitch
Live streaming platform for gamers

Twitch, launched in 2011, offers live streams of video games, esports, music, creative content, and more. Acquired by Amazon in 2014, it became a major platform with millions of viewers and broadcasters worldwide.

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2005
Twitch's inception as a 24/7 broadcast

Twitch originated as a 24/7 broadcast showcasing an individual's day-to-day activities. This marked the beginning of Twitch's journey before it evolved into a prominent platform in the gaming industry.

2006-10-01
Founding of Justin.tv

On October 1, 2006, Justin.tv, the parent company of Twitch, is founded.

2007-10
Justin.tv Series A Funding

In October 2007, Justin.tv raises $8 million in Series A funding.

2011-06-06
Launch of Twitch TV

Twitch TV was launched as Justin.tv's new esports project in June 2011.

2012-09-19
Twitch Raises $15M for Expansion

In September 2012, Twitch raised $15 million to expand its eSports webcasts, aiming to make every gamer famous.

2012-09-20
Twitch receives $15 million investment for eSports broadcasts expansion

In September 2012, Twitch received a $15 million investment to enhance its eSports broadcasts, aiming to expand its reach and improve the quality of content. This investment was a significant boost for the platform's growth in the competitive gaming industry.

2013-07
Twitch Expands into Non-Gaming Content

In July 2013, Twitch streamed a performance of 'Fester's Feast' from San Diego Comic-Con, marking its expansion into non-gaming content.

2013-10
Twitch Becomes Fourth-Largest Source of Peak Internet Traffic in the US

By October 2013, Twitch had 45 million unique viewers and was considered the fourth-largest source of peak Internet traffic in the United States.

2014-02-10
Justin.tv Inc. renamed Twitch Interactive

In 2014, Justin.tv Inc. was renamed to Twitch Interactive as the platform grew in popularity.

2014-02-17
Twitch Plays Pokémon Goes Viral

Twitch Plays Pokémon is a crowdsourced gaming experiment where viewers control the game character through chat commands. It gains massive popularity, reaching over 6.5 million total views within 5 days of its launch on February 12.

2014-02-18
Twitch Plays Pokemon reaches 6.5M total views

In February 2014, Twitch Plays Pokemon gained immense popularity with over 6.5 million total views.

2014-07-30
Steve Aoki's Live Performance on Twitch

On July 30, 2014, electronic dance music act Steve Aoki broadcast a live performance from a nightclub in Ibiza on Twitch.

2014-08-06
Twitch Introduces Updated Archive System

On August 6, 2014, Twitch introduced an updated archive system with multi-platform access to highlights from past broadcasts, higher quality video, and a new Video Manager interface.

2014-08-25
Amazon Acquiring Twitch for Over $1 Billion

Amazon was reported to be purchasing Twitch for a significant amount exceeding $1 billion, according to The Verge.

2014-08-27
Twitch's Viewers Reach 100 Million a Month

In 2014, Twitch's viewership reached 100 million a month, solidifying its position as a leading platform for game streaming.

2014-12-09
Twitch acquires GoodGame Agency

On December 9, Twitch announces the acquisition of GoodGame Agency, the organization behind esports teams Evil Geniuses and Alliance.

2014-12-10
Twitch acquires Evil Geniuses' Agency GoodGame

Twitch further expanded its portfolio by acquiring the agency of Evil Geniuses, known as GoodGame.

2015-01-15
Twitch Introduces Music Section

On January 15, 2015, Twitch announced the addition of a music section and free tracks to compensate for copyright crackdowns.

2015-03-24
Twitch Hacked

The game streaming website Twitch experienced a security breach leading to user details being compromised, as per the Independent.

2015-10-28
Twitch launches 'Creative' category

On October 28, 2015, Twitch introduced a new non-gaming category called 'Creative', aimed at showcasing artistic and creative works through live streams. The launch included a Bob Ross painting marathon.

2015-12-28
Twitch Launches Creative Category with Bob Ross Painting Marathon

Twitch launched the 'Creative' category along with an eight-day Bob Ross Painting marathon.

2016-03-15
Julia Child Marathon on Twitch

A marathon featuring Julia Child's cooking shows was streamed on Twitch, marking a shift in the platform's content focus beyond gaming.

2016-05-24
ELeague Adapts TV to the Gaming Sensibility

ELeague adapts television content to cater to the interests and preferences of the gaming community.

2016-06-20
Twitch launches Clips feature

Twitch introduces Clips, enabling gamers to easily share brief videos highlighting their memorable gaming moments.

2016-06-23
Top Twitch Broadcasters Considering Livestreaming Alternatives

Prominent Twitch broadcasters were exploring other livestreaming options, detailed in an article on Venturebeat.com.

2016-08-11
Facebook Livestreaming Competition

On August 11, 2016, Facebook intensified its competition with Twitch by allowing users to stream their Blizzard-based games on Facebook Live, further diversifying the livestreaming landscape.

2016-08-16
Twitch acquires Curse LLC

On August 16, 2016, Twitch acquired Curse LLC, a company specializing in online gaming communities and VoIP software, expanding Twitch's services in the gaming industry.

2016-08-27
Google in Talks About Possible Acquisition of Twitch

Google was reportedly discussing the potential acquisition of Twitch, a popular livestreaming platform, as mentioned in The Wall Street Journal.

2016-08-28
Twitch Valuation Reaches $20 Billion Inside Amazon

In 2016, it was reported that Twitch, a popular streaming platform, could potentially be valued at $20 billion within Amazon's ecosystem.

2016-09-30
Launch of Twitch Prime

On September 30, 2016, Twitch announced Twitch Prime, a premium service offering exclusive features to Amazon Prime subscribers, enhancing the benefits for Twitch users.

2017-03
Curse app rebranded as Twitch Desktop App

In March 2017, Twitch Interactive rebranded the Curse app as the Twitch Desktop App after acquiring Curse LLC. The new app retained features for mod installation, Curse Voice functionalities, added a dedicated browser for Twitch, friends system, and activity sharing. It also served as the client for the Twitch Game Store.

2017-04
Introduction of Twitch Affiliate Program

In April 2017, Twitch introduced the Affiliate Program, enabling smaller channels to generate revenue and access multi-priced subscription tiers.

2018-08-20
Changes to Twitch advertising policy

On August 20, 2018, Twitch announced changes to its advertising policy, requiring separate subscriptions for ad-free viewing, marking a shift in the platform's revenue model.

2019-09-26
Sale of CurseForge by Twitch Interactive

On September 26, 2019, Twitch Interactive sold CurseForge to Overwolf, a strategic move to streamline operations and focus on core services.

2020-06-22
CurseForge sold to Overwolf by Twitch Interactive

On June 22, 2020, Twitch Interactive sold CurseForge to Overwolf for an undisclosed sum. This move marked a transition in mod management functionalities from Twitch to Overwolf's CurseForge app.

2020-06-29
Suspension of Donald Trump's campaign account

Twitch temporarily suspended then US President Donald Trump's campaign account on June 29, 2020, citing 'hateful conduct' as the reason.

2020-09-15
Twitch signs licensing agreement with SACEM

On September 15, 2020, Twitch signed a licensing agreement with SACEM, allowing composers and publishers to collect royalties for music streamed in France. This was part of Twitch's efforts to address copyright issues.

2020-12-04
Removal of 'blind playthrough' tag

On December 4, 2020, Twitch removed the 'blind playthrough' tag due to concerns of ableism, suggesting alternative labels like 'first playthrough' or 'no spoilers'.

2021-01-06
Removal of PogChamp Emote

Twitch announced the removal of the PogChamp emote, which was the third most-used emote on the platform in 2018. The decision was made due to the controversial comments made by the streamer Ryan 'Gootecks' Gutierrez, the face of the emote, during the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.

2021-02-12
Election of KomodoHype as New PogChamp Emote

Twitch viewers elected KomodoHype as the new permanent PogChamp emote to replace the previously removed PogChamp emote. This decision was made after the controversy surrounding the original emote.

2021-04-27
Twitch and Dailymotion on Google Trends

The search interest for Twitch and Dailymotion was analyzed on Google Trends on April 27, 2021.

2021-09-01
#ADayOffTwitch protest

On September 1, 2021, numerous streamers organized a '#ADayOffTwitch' protest against hate raids, leading to Twitch taking legal action and introducing tools to prevent such raids.

2021-10-06
Twitch Data Leak

An anonymous hacker leaked Twitch's source code, APIs, and details of payouts to streamers. Twitch confirmed the data leak due to a server misconfiguration.

2022-08-23
Twitch Exclusivity Agreement Change

Twitch announced the end of its exclusivity agreement, allowing streamers to livestream on other platforms with some restrictions.

2022-09-20
Prohibition of certain gambling streams

On September 20, 2022, Twitch announced a policy change to prohibit streaming of certain gambling games on unlicensed websites, affecting popular gambling content on the platform.

2022-09-21
Twitch Subscription Revenue Reduction

Twitch announced a change in subscription revenue for large streamers, reducing the percentage earned after a certain threshold.

2022-11-16
Twitch app broadcasting functionality removed for Xbox One and Series X/S

On November 16, 2022, Twitch removed broadcasting functionality from its app for Xbox One and Series X/S, replacing it with 'viewer-only' wrapped web-apps. This change was part of a move towards a single codebase across TVs, with Twitch working with Microsoft to enable broadcasting through native integration.

2023
Free Twitch Followers

Offering Twitch users the opportunity to increase their follower count without any cost.

2023-01-09
Twitch Acquisition by Amazon

Twitch, starting from its roots as Justin.tv, has evolved into a major platform in the gaming industry, culminating in its acquisition by Amazon for $970 million.

2023-03-09
The Streamer Awards on Twitch

The Streamer Awards, presented by Twitch, took place on March 11th, showcasing and celebrating streamers exclusively on the platform.

2023-03-20
Update on Twitch Workforce

Twitch shared an update about their workforce, emphasizing their mission to empower communities to create together.

2023-06-06
Twitch Sponsorship Restrictions

Twitch announced restrictions on third-party sponsor placements in streams, which were later retracted due to criticism.

2023-12-06
Twitch Exit from South Korea Market

Twitch announced its exit from the South Korea market due to prohibitive costs, leading to restrictions on stream quality and access.

2024-03-28
Ninja shares cancer diagnosis

In March 28, 2024, Ninja, a prominent video game streamer on Twitch and YouTube, reveals his battle with cancer.

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