At TwitchCon Europe 2024, MeinMMO editor and Twitch expert Lydia spoke with Twitch CEO Dan Clancy about the latest developments on the streaming platform.
Dan Clancy took on the role of CEO of Twitch in the spring of 2023. This marked the first time the streaming platform had a new leader. He faces numerous challenges, such as dissatisfaction from some streamers and the fact that Twitch is still not profitable.
In conversation with MeinMMO, Dan Clancy discusses influencer scandals and the role of non-gaming content on Twitch. The interview has been edited and shortened for clarity.
Twitch is about more than just gaming
MeinMMO: Originally, Twitch was a purely gaming platform, but I feel it has evolved more into what justin.tv once was. What significance do non-gaming-related events and categories have on Twitch in the future?
Dan Clancy: One thing I’ve always said is that Twitch has interestingly always been a talk platform. They just happened to be playing while they were talking. Because the reason they came was connection.
Many people needed to have the controller in hand to socialize, but then they talked about all sorts of things. And people didn’t come to Twitch to find out how to get through a level in a game. They go to YouTube videos for that. They came because they enjoyed the personality.
And here’s something I always say: It turns out that people who game have a lot of interests. They do a lot of things besides gaming. They cook, they exercise, they work with wood …
As we’ve grown, one of the biggest things we’ve seen is that often it’s the game streamers who start to diversify. And start to say: “I want to do these other things and bring other people along.” I think the human need for connection is something everyone needs.
I think that’s especially important in today’s world. The phrase I sometimes use is: “Social networks are actually asocial.” Sitting alone and swiping is actually isolating. So I believe there’s a need for community, and that’s not just a gamer’s need.
I think that’s important because the need we’re fulfilling is a general need. And I think that’s why you see this diversity of people looking for something like this.
Streamer events yes, financial support no
MeinMMO: Some German streamers have publicly mentioned that they feel Twitch doesn’t support them when they want to host large events. And in Germany, there’s this other platform called Joyn that some of them use for their events. What steps have you taken to address this, or plan to take in the future?
Dan Clancy: Generally, while we’re building the platform, I think large events are a wonderful thing for the platform. Sometimes, when they [the streamers] ask for support, they mean funding for large events, right? And we see many large events on Twitch. A lot of creators all over the world hosting large events.
Our approach is more that we need to ensure we can provide advertising and other things to allow large events to thrive on Twitch. But we are a UGC platform [user-generated content], where we let our users find ways to make this a sustainable thing.
And in fact, we’ve found that we get fewer large events when we start sponsoring. Because then there aren’t hundreds of creatives doing it, because it’s just a small group, as everyone waits and builds nothing.
If one person does an event and finds a way to get a sponsor, finds a way to make it happen, then 5 other people do it and 5 more.
I believe we’re very confident when it comes to large events. […] Our approach is that we need to help them with advertising and such, if they are to have long-term viability, which we want. We can tweet about it and do other things, but funding would limit the number of large events.
MeinMMO: So it’s more of a community-driven approach rather than renting a large stadium?
Dan Clancy: Yes, and someone could do that [rent a stadium]. That’s the beauty of our platform, that the creator is the one doing that, right? We are a platform through which they can reach an audience. And then they figure out how to implement it.
MeinMMO: And then it’s their event, not a Joyn event with the streamer.
Dan Clancy: Interestingly, it’s usually a better event. Because that’s one thing we learned, among other things, when we started with Rivals: When we planned it, it usually didn’t work as well as when a creator came up with the idea.
Why big streamers are not really a loss
MeinMMO: Recently in the German Twitch scene, there was a bit of an uproar when two big streamers ended their careers, and there was a mood of: “Who’s next? Who will get canceled?”
Dan Clancy: I don’t know the details because while I hear about it, there are many specifics in something like this. The most important thing I would say is that there are always a lot of developments and changes in our community and that big streamers – for whatever reason – move on because they choose to do something else.
And I think that’s part of the business and the platform. The good news is that there are many streamers who want to grow their audience.
MeinMMO: So it’s just part of the process that some stop and new ones appear?
Dan Clancy: If you use the forest as an analogy, it’s like this: When some trees fall, other trees grow, and that’s important for a vibrant community. Because the people just starting out, the 19-year-olds who are streaming, need space to grow. And if all the big people are just hanging over them, they can’t get any sunlight.
While here Anni The Duck and Unge occupy the streaming scene, the career-ending of the infamous Dr Disrespect was a major topic internationally. Previously, his mysterious ban from the streaming platform had puzzled for 4 years. Twitch emphasizes after DrDisrespect’s ban how strict it is against harassment – From Shurjoka’s perspective, this must seem cynical
