Since the early days of YouTube “let’s play” content, a few names have managed to burst through the crowd to become some of the most notable names on the website. Jacksepticeye, Pewdiepie, Game Grumps, and Markiplier have become synonymous with the format, making successful careers out of playing video games and entertaining viewers. In fact, people likeMarkiplier have made millions of dollars through YouTubeand continue to influence to this day. However, it seems as though this is a much different beast than broadcasting a livestream onTwitch.
On a recent episode of the Trash Taste podcast, the formerly green-haired promoter of “positive mental attitude” that is Jacksepticeye gave a little insight into why he’s not keen to return toTwitchstreaming. While he’s done it in the past, he feels that he may be too “boring” for live content and that he can make more entertaining videos when he has the ability to edit. He admitted that there was a certain degree of anxiety with livestreaming and having to entertain people who are right there in the chat. On top of that, “Jack,” whose real name is Seán McLoughlin, feels that hours of live content would get in the way of his YouTube work.
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Anyone who’s ever tried to forge a career out of being a content creator can perhaps sympathize with his reasoning. Streamers work long hours in a very competitive industry, and the pressure to consistently be entertaining in front of lots of viewers can add to the pressure.Streamers such as Pokimane have had to take breaks from Twitch, given the stress that likely comes with being an online broadcaster with millions of followers. To many, it’s likely a dream come true to have a lot of fans admire your work and to play video games for a living, but it’s clearly not without its drawbacks. For those interested in checking out the episode featuring Jack, the discussion about Twitch begins around the 1:46:00 mark.
Even edited content can take a toll on a person. Last year,Jacksepticeye took a hiatus from YouTube, and in fact, he was even considering quitting all together. When he started out, he was uploading two videos a day, spending much of his time indoors recording and editing. Most fans understand any content creator’s need to take a step back once in a while, whether it’s from YouTube or streaming on Twitch.
Despite its enormous popularity,streaming platforms have seen a slight decline in growthsince last year. WhileTwitchstill remains the head honcho of this aspect of the entertainment industry, it seems to be suffering from either big names jumping ship to alternative sites or people like Jacksepticeye being reluctant to make an appearance on the Amazon-owned service.
