Twitch, the popular video game streaming platform, has announced an increase in the prices of its subscriptions, following the trend of other platforms such as Spotify, Netflix, and Peacock. Level 1 subscribers will go from paying $4.99 to $5.99 per month, while Levels 2 and 3 remain at $9.99 and $24.99 respectively.
The company has justified this increase as part of its efforts to “help creators build and grow their communities worldwide.” A Twitch spokesperson told Tom’s Guide that subscriptions are “essential for supporting streamers” and that, with the rising content creation costs, it is crucial to generate more revenue to make “streaming more sustainable.“
The price increase is not universal. In February, only Canada, Turkey, and the United Kingdom experienced increases. Now, the adjustment extends to more than 30 countries. The official Twitch account on Twitter assured that streamers will continue to receive between 50% and 70% of the revenue from subscriptions, depending on their level in the Plus Program. However, this price increase could also discourage users, affecting support for streamers despite the higher proportion of income.
2024 has not been an easy year for Twitch. In January, the platform fired 500 employees, and, at the end of May, replaced its Security Advisory Board with a group of content creators. In addition, the CEO of Twitch has admitted that the company is not profitable.
This price increase is just one of many that have taken place in the last year. In 2023, services like Sling TV, Hulu, Fubo, and DirectTV Stream also raised their rates. Even leading streaming companies like Netflix, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Apple TV Plus have followed the same path, reflecting an annual trend of increases that shows no signs of stopping.
