The German content creator HandOfBlood has built a career on YouTube with gaming videos but is now increasingly switching to Twitch. This is also the path taken by Germany’s original Let’s Play star: Gronkh. Both enjoy the new path more, but both also see that old fans do not feel engaged with this new direction.
This is the development with HandOfBlood:
HandOfBlood announced in early 2024 that he is scaling back his video production and focusing more on streaming on Twitch. Until then, HandOfBlood was known for elaborate YouTube videos, in which he frequently appeared in costume.
Now he looks back on 9 months of Twitch: He enjoys the new content a lot and even wants to stream more and more regularly. There are talks of daily streams starting from October 9.
But his “old fans” on YouTube feel neglected.
HandOfBlood’s YouTube fans feel neglected
What’s the problem? HandOfBlood says he initially wanted to release a video on the main channel on YouTube every month. But HandOfBlood and his team could only maintain that short-term while they were contractually obligated and had to adhere to placement agreements. Then, there was also a period of 3 months without anything on YouTube.
He understands the problem that some of his old fans on YouTube don’t feel as engaged with the Twitch content he uploads to YouTube. There is a difference,
- whether you speak directly to the fans into the camera, as in a YouTube video.
- or talk to the Twitch camera turned sideways while playing.
HandOfBlood says there have been many “frictions” with the fans, especially on the channel “HandOfUncut,” where he uploads Twitch material to YouTube:
Fans criticize: Twitch is a huge time waster
Here are the reactions to the announcement: Indeed, in the comments to the announcement that he wants to do even more Twitch, there are some disappointed fans. It seems to be primarily a matter of time. People would rather watch 20 minutes of high-quality content than have 6 hours of streams running in the background:
- “Personally, I still prefer YouTube. I just don’t have the time to watch streams, but here on YouTube I can do that.”
- “For me, Twitch is just not it. It’s simply a huge time waster.”
Some comments sound nostalgic and mourn the old times:
- “I am and remain the typical YouTube fan […] Personally, I miss the old times a lot.”
- “I have to admit, since you mostly stream, I hardly follow you anymore.”
Even Gronkh’s fans miss the good old days
What was it like for Gronkh? Gronkh is in the exact same dilemma, as he made clear in a video from July:
- The “old fans” want him to create YouTube videos where he simply plays by himself – the Let’s Play series that made him famous.
- However, he himself prefers to be on Twitch, interacting with fans and getting feedback from them while he plays.
The new content creator meta uses YouTube only for secondary utilization
This is what it’s all about: A few years ago, Twitch streamers switched en masse to YouTube, because they were under pressure on Twitch due to the subscription model, needing to stream daily to avoid losing Twitch subs.
YouTube offered a safe harbor
, especially when the platform was enticing with exclusive contracts. On YouTube, content creators could also take vacations or dedicate themselves to other projects without immediately fearing that their income and thus their livelihood would crumble.
However, that has changed now: There are hardly any exclusive contracts left since 2023 and content creators are now utilizing the best of both worlds.
The “modern form” currently works like this: content creators stream live on Twitch and then repurpose clips from these streams on YouTube. This is cost-efficient and lucrative for them:
- Most Twitch streams require neither preparation nor follow-up – either you play yourself or react to others’ content.
- The cutting of YouTube clips from the streams is done by editors, the streamer himself usually has nothing to do with it.
- As a result, you can earn money from subs on Twitch and simultaneously have a stream of videos on YouTube that are fully monetized.
The most successful US streamers like Asmongold work this way; in Germany, MontanaBlack once explained how incredibly lucrative this model is.
The downside is: viewers on YouTube are no longer watching YouTube videos, but actually just clips from Twitch. They no longer feel like they are watching videos made directly for them. With this feeling, they are absolutely right.
But for the influencers themselves, this “casual” content on Twitch while interacting with the audience feels more relaxed and enjoyable than recording YouTube videos alone and putting in a lot of effort and time.
This very effort in preparing and following up on the videos seems to weigh heavily on the content creators. Gronkh said he doesn’t want to spend as much time in front of the computer as he used to. HandOfBlood also finds the elaborate videos too much work, as he explained: HandOfBlood says he lacks the passion for elaborate YouTube videos and now prefers to go live on Twitch almost daily
