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  • Is YouTube Changing? Ludwig's Exit, GameHers Winners, & Platform Updates!

Is YouTube Changing? Ludwig's Exit, GameHers Winners, & Platform Updates!

Curated news for streamers and content creators

Author

DimTheLights
March 05, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

Estimated Read Time: 9 minutes, 57 seconds

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Happy Tuesday, Streamers!

March is Women’s History Month, a special time to honor women’s contributions throughout American history. Gaming has had some pretty powerful women join its ranks.

  • Carol Shaw was the first female game programmer and designer

  • Dona Bailey was the first woman to design an arcade game, co-creating the classic Centipede.

  • Amy Hennig, considered one of the most influential women in gaming, is currently creating Star Wars and Marvel games as president of SkyDance New Media. Before that, she was the head writer of a little game called Uncharted and even earned a BAFTA Special Award, acknowledging individuals that have “made significant and inspiring contribution to film through a particular project or work”.

Despite their major impact, their stories often go unnoticed in online gaming discourse. Even now, in 2024, it's baffling to see some still scoff at the idea of women in gaming. Those people would be greatly mistaken, in fact, 46% of gamers in the United States are female.

Yet, despite representing nearly half the gaming community, women continue to face significant challenges across the gaming, esports, and streaming industries including harassment and discrimination.

Women in Games and similar organizations do great work, yet the industry must do more to support women gamers and creators.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, I'm excited to share that I will be launching a series featuring interviews with female Twitch streamers. You’ll get some insights into what started their love of gaming and learn about their victories and challenges navigating the streaming space.

I look forward to sharing their stories with you!

Enjoy the rest of this week’s newsletter!

Dim

Are you completing your todos?

✅Tuesday To-Dos

Every week I curate 🖐️ actionable tasks to help you improve your content. See what’s new this week 👇

  1. 🎮 Request your game key - Dive into "As Dusk Falls," a unique multiplayer interactive drama for PC or PS5. ICO Partners has keys up for grabs if you're planning to stream it!

  2. 🎉 Secure your party spot - Don't miss the Dare Drop Creator x Publisher Party at PAX East. It's the perfect chance to mingle with fellow creators and make new connections!

  3. ✊ Join the accelerator - SnapChat's new Black Creator Accelerator program is here, offering 25 aspiring Black creators a $10k/month stipend. Discover how to apply or share with a friend!

  4. 📚 Learn from the best - Get up to speed with the YouTube Create app on Android through Collin Michael's insightful crash course. Perfect for expanding your content creation toolkit!

  5. 🛠 Watch and upgrade - Elevate your stream with Nutty's latest video on the top 10 OBS Plugins of all time. Essential viewing for streamers looking to enhance their setup in 2024.

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🥇This Week’s Top Stories

MrBeast shares that his slower videos are actually performing better

Is The ‘MrBeast-ification of YouTube’ Bubble About To Burst?

Feeling overwhelmed by the MrBeast clones bombarding you with non-stop action and yelling? Well, MrBeast might actually AGREE with you.

Just a few days back, MrBeast, a.k.a. Jimmy, got real about his philosophy on video editing and content creation. Known for his whirlwind storytelling and knack for cutting out anything that could possibly bore his audience, he surprised everyone by flipping the script. Jimmy's now preaching the gospel of taking it easy with slower, more chill videos. And here's the kicker: his views and engagement haven't dipped—they've actually gone up.

The whole "MrBeastification" debate kicked off with a video from Pinely, who critiqued the high-octane editing style that's taken over YouTube. Pinely called out the impact MrBeast has had on the platform and its creators suggesting that its was mostly negative and unhealthy for the platform.

But let's be real, MrBeast's influence is undeniable. His channels rake in millions of subscribers, not to mention the army of imitators trying to catch some of that magic for themselves.

Is the YouTube landscape ready for a shake-up? It's anyone's guess. But when MrBeast suggests a new trend, you can bet the YouTube world listens. As the guy who might as well be YouTube royalty, his word carries weight, and other creators are likely already brainstorming how to slow down their edits.

The journey to see what’s next might be slow, but I’m thinking that’s just how Jimmy would like it!

Colin & Samir interview Ludwig at his Mogul Moves HQ

Ludwig Has A Plan To Quit Streaming Within Five Years

Ever wonder what happens when a big-time streamer like Ludwig decides to hang up his streaming for good? Well, it looks like Ludwig's been pondering that very question – and he's come up with an interesting solution.

Imagine this: an upside-down triangle with Ludwig at the pointy end and everything he's built teetering on top. This image, seen below in a tweet by Colin and Samir, has been bugging Ludwig for a while now. It illustrates his fear that if he ever stepped back, everything might just collapse. This is a stark contrast to traditional companies, where the CEO sits at the top and the company foundation is sturdy enough to withstand changes at the helm.

Enter OFFBRAND, Ludwig's brainchild. Founded in 2022, OFFBRAND is his way of turning the content creator dilemma on its head. OFFBRAND is the production powerhouse behind events like The Streamer Awards and Ludwig’s ChessBoxing Tournament, aiming to outlive its founder's streaming career.

During a recent interview with Colin and Samir, Ludwig shared his plan for OFFBRAND and what he imagines the next few years will look like. Ludwig announced that OFFBRAND would become a worker’s co-op meaning the employees who pour their heart and soul into the company will not only get a say in its future, but also own a piece of the pie. Ludwig believes this is a sustainable model that will allow the team to thrive even after he decides to step away.

image via Surviving 50 hours with Ludwig by Colin and Samir

Ludwig's approach is refreshingly self-aware. While many in the creator space seem to lack any plan whatsoever, Ludwig's laying the groundwork for a media empire designed to last well beyond his streaming days.

It certainly got me thinking about my creator journey. What about you? What's your game plan? Will you stream till you're grey, or are you thinking about your legacy? Starting with a vision, even as you chase that next big milestone, can set you on a path to long-term success. Ludwig's story is a powerful reminder to build with the future in mind.

Who Shined Bright At This Years Celebration Of Women In Gaming

In a landmark event that celebrated female representation in gaming, thegamehers Awards 2024 took place on March 1 in Atlanta, GA and peaked at 15K viewers on Twitch.

This significant gathering was dedicated to acknowledging the remarkable talent and contributions of women across the gaming spectrum, from avid gamers to influential industry leaders.

It underscored the importance of gender equality within the digital gaming realm. Rebecca Dixon, CEO of thegamehers, highlighted the event as a clear testament to the pivotal role women play in shaping the gaming industry.

Here are some notable winners and their Twitter handles:

See the full list of finalists here.

  • Twitch is looking for new Ambassadors! Register Now

  • Connect with Twitch and explore the new Rivals schedule, now featuring an 'express interest' option for events. Check it out here

  • Twitch ends its streaming service in South Korea due to ISP charges, leaving local streamers in a bind. Understand the details

  • The Twitch ban in Turkey has been lifted. Stream on, Turkey!

  • Celebrating Women's History Month, Twitch introduces the "Legendary Women" shelf, showcasing amazing content all year round. Discover more

  • Twitch unveils a new Continued Sub Alert, celebrating viewers who transition to Recurring Subs. Available for Affiliates and Partners! Learn how it works

  • It's here: Twitch's Coworking stream category. Find your productivity community! Join the trend

  • 43 unionized YouTube Music workers were laid off last week while pleading with Austin City Council members to step in and ask Google to negotiate with the unionized workers. These layoffs come only months after YouTube celebrated their paid music tier had surpassed 100 million subscribers.

  • YouTube is expanding the beta version of its short-form editing app, YouTube Create, to include Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

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🎙️ Creator News

  • QTCinderella's new weekly show, "Late Night with QT," kicks off with Will Neff, blending the latest streaming news and guest appearances from popular creators. Watch the first episode

  • GameSquare sells Complexity, a team with stars like TimTheTatMan and Ninja, to join forces with FaZe Clan in a groundbreaking merger. Read about the acquisition

  • FaZe Banks makes a bold comeback as CEO telling his entire staff they are fired. Catch up on his first move

  • Breakfast just got more exciting with The Sidemen's new cereal brand collaboration. Learn More

  • Tech meets style as Marques Brownlee teams up with dBrand for a line of special edition keycaps. Check out the collaboration

  • CohhCarnage's streaming marathon raises an impressive $185,000 for the American Heart Association in just four hours. See his last tweet

  • Mizkif's first MMA Fight League event at Iron Forge gym captivates 100K viewers. Watch the VOD

  • Discover streamers on the rise in VIBE's feature article, including KageBoi, Storymodebae, and more. Meet the new faces of streaming

🔴Streaming News

🎮 Gaming News

  • Xbox Partner Preview Showcase Set for March 6th, Teasing New Trailers from EA, Nexon, and Capcom.

  • TemTem Developer to Cease Major Updates for the Pokémon-Inspired MMO.

  • Nintendo and Switch Emulator Yuzu Agree on $2.4 Million Settlement; Yuzu to Cease Operations Immediately.

  • Bright Paw Creator, Indie Studio Radical Forge, Announces Layoffs Amidst Restructuring Plans.

  • Mobile Gaming Giant Wildlife Studios Cuts 21% of Its Workforce, Affecting 800 Employees.

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Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you next week!

-Dim

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