Summary
- Valkyrae switched from YouTube to Twitch due to YouTube’s focus on video content uploads, not streaming.
- She identifies as a streamer, not a video uploader, making Twitch’s live content audience more suitable for her.
- Valkyrae’s strong Twitch following indicates a successful transition from YouTube to Twitch.
Valkyrae, one of the most prominent content creators with 4.1 million subscribers on YouTube, has revealed the major reason behind her decision to leave the platform after five years and transition to Twitch. Known for her engaging personality and diverse gaming content, Valkyrae’s move to Twitch, the Amazon-owned streaming platform, marks a significant shift in her career.
Rachell Hofstetter, better known as Valkyrae, began her streaming career on Twitch in 2015, where she quickly gained recognition for her Fortnite streams. In 2020, she made headlines by signing a two-year exclusivity contract with YouTube, marking a major milestone in her career. After completing that contract, Valkyrae renewed her commitment to YouTube with two additional exclusivity agreements. However, on December 19, she surprised her fans by announcing her decision to leave YouTube, sparking widespread speculation about the reasons behind her departure.
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During a recent episode of her podcast, Press Esc, Valkyrae elaborated on her experience with streaming on YouTube and why she decided to switch to Twitch. She highlighted that YouTube’s primary focus has always been on video content, particularly with the growing emphasis on “shorts,” as the platform had directly communicated this priority to her. While YouTube remains a dominant force for video creators, multi-talented content creator Valkyrae expressed frustration that certain improvements she had hoped for on the streaming side were not implemented during her five years on the platform.
Valkyrae Explains Her Decision to Switch to Twitch
“I view myself as a streamer because I barely upload YouTube videos. I don’t think it works with the type of content I would want to upload.”
100 Thieves co-owner Valkyrae explained that streaming on YouTube comes with the challenge of competing with a vast library of videos, which doesn’t align with her approach as someone who identifies primarily as a streamer rather than a content uploader. Valkyrae acknowledged that if she were consistently uploading videos, YouTube might still be a suitable platform for her. However, given her focus on streaming, she felt that Twitch’s audience, which is specifically geared toward live content, better matched her goals.
Valkyrae’s first livestream on Twitch is scheduled for her birthday, January 8, 2025. While some may wonder how Valkyrae’s decision to leave YouTube for Twitch will impact her, her Twitch channel already boasts over a million followers, indicating she can expect a strong viewer turnout for her debut return stream, with many of her YouTube fans likely joining. It is worth noting that platform switches among streamers are not uncommon, as seen last year when major creators like Adin Ross, xQc, and Amouranth moved to Twitch’s rival, Kick.com.