In a surprise move, Elon Musk’s newly acquired platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), has delved into the realm of video game streaming, staking its claim against industry titans such as Twitch and YouTube.

Musk’s Streaming Foray:

  1. First Glimpse into X’s Streaming Capability:
    • Elon Musk provided the community with a sneak peek into this new feature when he live-streamed himself diving into the depths of a “Diablo IV dungeon”.
    • This wasn’t a one-off, as he followed it up with another live-stream. However, these initial tests weren’t without issues, with many pointing out flaws such as screen flickering and audio glitches.
  2. Challenges and Technical Issues:
    • During the 40-minute stream on October 3, around 1.5 million viewers were treated to not just Musk’s gaming prowess but also some technical hiccups.
    • Technical issues seem to be a hurdle, as evident from the previous stream that took around 52 minutes, much of which was devoted to troubleshooting.
  3. Announcement and Public Reaction:
    • Elon Musk enthusiastically announced his gaming session on X, showcasing the platform’s streaming capabilities.
    • User responses varied from being utterly awestruck to making direct comparisons to Twitch and YouTube, with some even signaling the end of the current reigning platforms.

The Landscape of Game Streaming: X’s Ambition vs. Twitch’s Dominance:

  1. Monetizing on X: An Advantage for Creators?
    • One of Musk’s aims with X is to mold it into an “everything app”. Now, as X gears up to challenge Twitch, only those with an “X Blue” subscription can access its new streaming feature.
    • In contrast to Twitch, X’s recent introduction of revenue-sharing might lure in some disenchanted Twitch creators. With monetization often being a pain point for many on Twitch, X offers a more direct and rewarding model.
  2. How Does X’s Revenue Model Work?
    • X’s ad program is designed to benefit its creators. Whenever an ad is viewed on a post or profile, X earns revenue from that impression. A share of this revenue goes directly to the content creators, acknowledging the value they bring to the platform.

Conclusion:

While it’s too early to predict the future trajectory of X in the game streaming domain, Elon Musk’s endeavors signify that the platform is gearing up to be more than just a social media site. Whether X can truly challenge or even surpass platforms like Twitch remains to be seen. However, given Musk’s track record of disrupting industries, the gaming world should certainly be on its toes.

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