Tensions rise as Twitch creators’ salaries are leaked

On 6 October, a post titled ‘twitch leaks part one’ was uploaded on 4chan, an anonymous message-board forum.

Within the post was a link to a 128-gigabyte torrent file which contains the company’s source code, an unreleased Steam competitor from Amazon Game Studios, and details of creator payouts.

According to the anonymous user, the leak was designed to “foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space” because “their community is....a disgusting toxic cesspool.”

The coronavirus pandemic has ushered millions of individuals to spend their leisure time on more indoor entertainment, specifically video games.

The world’s leading live-streaming platform for video games is Twitch.

According to the Streamlabs and Stream Hatchet Q1 2021 Live Streaming Industry Report, viewership on Twitch has doubled from 3.1 billion to 6.3 billion in the span of one year from the beginning of Q1 2020.

Furthermore, research from Safe Betting Sites revealed that the amount of new Twitch streamers has soared 150 per cent from 3.9 million in January 2020 to 9.9 million in January earlier this year.

Thus, becoming the next e-sports personality on Twitch may seem reasonable during a pandemic when you’re isolated at home with ample time.

However, prospective streamers may want to think twice when a server configuration change within Twitch’s database caused an unauthorised third party to hack Twitch’s servers.

Anonymous 4chan post of torrent download for Twitch leaks | Source © 4chan.org

The limelight of the controversial affair were Twitch creators’ salaries.

The detailed list of Twitch creator payouts from August 2019 until October 2021 was released on Twitter by pseudonym user @KnowS0mething.

Creator payouts do not include donations, brand sponsorships, advertisement revenue, creator merchandise, and even bonuses from signing a contract for exclusively streaming on Twitch.

Netizens expressed their opinions regarding the salary leak.

User Ben @GiallorossiBlue, expressed his concerns regarding prominent streamers accepting donations from their viewers whilst small streamers are neglected.

Another user @shiri_uwu, felt that netizens were unnerved without valid justification as it is the viewers choice to support the streamer by following their channel and donating.

Rachel Sim, a streamer who began during the pandemic said, “I was quite shocked to find out the amount twitch streamers actually make.”

I knew they make money; I just didn't expect for it to be that much money.”

As of yet, no part two of the leak counterparts this initial release.