Each year, video gaming culture leaks more into the mainstream.
For the most part, the gaming world is still peripheral to other forms of entertainment, from pro sports to pop music. However, gaming isn’t solely the focus for those who like to compete. Throughout the 2010s, the industry grew thanks to rising interest in streaming.
In the past, gaming was an analog venture. Before the industry went digital in the 1990s, the casino was the primary stomping ground for players. Titles like roulette were some of the most exciting spots on the casino floor, where players could rub elbows while they refined their strategies.
Decades later, roulette is now a fully digitized title. Players from around the world can access it straight from their smartphone or laptop—no trips to the casino are needed. This highlights just how much gaming can evolve in a short period of time. The same is happening now with video games thanks to the emergence of live streaming.
Streaming is a live video feed that connects gamers to their audiences. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube even include chat features so that viewers and hosts can interact live. This trend, in turn, has helped give rise to new gaming interests.
Multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and first-person shooters (FPSs) took center stage, ushering in a new era. Not only could gamers compete, but they could also watch others take on difficult games, levels, boss battles, side quests, and more.
In other words, gaming became a spectator sport—a marketable one, too. But who, exactly, are fans spectating? Let’s look closer at the most popular and most-followed gamers who regularly livestream on Twitch and/or YouTube.
Ninja
Ninja (Tyler Blevins) is the best example of a gaming celebrity with high entertainment value. In fact, he was one of the first streamers to help put the Twitch platform on the map, and the MOBA, Fortnite. Thanks to his massive following and brand reach, he’s even landed major sponsorships and partnerships—including a shoe deal with Adidas, something that’s normally reserved for traditional athletes.
Shroud
Unlike Ninja, Shroud (Michael Grzesiek) is regarded as one of the most competitive streamers. He has millions of subscribers across Twitch and YouTube who tune in to watch him play FPS hits like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. His specialty isn’t necessarily entertainment. Instead, it’s his eSports-caliber skillset, which can help players improve their performance.
PewDiePie
Today, PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg) is known for his cheeky YouTube videos. However, before he became a mainstream entertainer, he got his start as a game streamer. He first started posting his gaming exploits on YouTube, where he built an audience that was interested in his horror and action runs. However, PewDiePie has since taken a step back from the gaming world, citing a desire to live under the radar.
Jacksepticeye
Jacksepticeye (Sean McLoughlin) caught the attention of Disney quickly in his streaming career, which began in the early 2010s. His content was known for being entertaining and more lighthearted than others, which made him more accessible than other over-the-top streamers. Like other streamers, he has joined gamers on tours, including a Ready Player 3 tour with the web series group Game Grumps.
Markiplier
Markplier (Mark Fischbach) has always been focused on indie horror titles—something that makes his streams slightly different to others. He made his name playing titles like Five Nights at Freddy’s. Thanks to his more niche focuses and his solid business sense, Markiplier has become one of the wealthiest streamers in the world. In 2022, Forbes named him as the third-highest-paid content creator in the world.
N0tail
N0tail (Johan Sundstein) is the world’s highest-paid eSports gamer. Though he isn’t a traditional streamer, his exploits have been uploaded to YouTube where they’ve received tens of millions of views. In other words, N0tail is so good at gaming that he regularly shows up on other streams and is cited by major gamers. He’s also known for his incredible winnings, which helped land him on the 30 Under 30 list from Forbes.
