CEO’s Corner: The Importance of Community in Live Streaming

It’s dangerous to go alone…

Writing today, fresh off another amazing PAX event, the value of community has again been made clear to me. It’s impossible to leave these events and not sense that, palpably. Whether it’s getting to mingle with broadcaster friends in the industry, see my fellow conference comrades again, or watch broadcasters interact with their fans, it is easy to say community is the best part of conferences.

To many, this may be obvious because it extends naturally out of the core of the gaming live-streaming experience: community is the best part of broadcasting! The moment by moment audience interaction, the constant collaboration with fellow broadcasters, and the unique signatures of each stream’s community make this medium truly special.

What I love is that, most of the time, the community built between streamers and fans while the broadcast is live, extends past the moment the stream ends. It’s as if the community is it’s own living and breathing entity. Memes, regulars who become friends, emotes, traditions, events, and so much more… all create a special space for people to gather.

Community is truly a refuge. It is a joy to share in when life is good, and it is a bright spot to run to when life is hard. We all know stories of people where community, online or offline, got them through a difficult season and, sometimes, even saved their life.

We were designed to be in community.

The community that you are building as a streamer, and the community you are supporting as a fan, is incredibly important. And it’s worth protecting.

Broadcasters: continue working hard, not just in the fun and rewarding times, but also through the challenging times, because it’s truly life changing work you are all doing as you build your community.

It’s dangerous to go alone… so take each other.