Live streaming video game playthroughs on Twitch has exploded. As of May 2023, over 140 million viewers tune in monthly. With so much interest, it‘s no wonder over 6.8 million people now stream each month – 2.4 million concurrently!
But where do you start if you want to join them? This extensive guide will walk you through everything you need to begin streaming on Twitch successfully.
Why Stream on Twitch?
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s discuss why you should consider streaming on Twitch:
Find a Gaming Community
A major benefit is connecting with people who share your interests. Twitch makes it easy to discover streamers who play your favorite games and chat with them and their fans in real time. It facilitates an incredibly fun, social viewing experience.
Showcase Your Skills
Streaming presents an awesome chance to highlight your gaming prowess to an audience that cares. Are you exceptionally good at FPS games? Speedruns? Do you have specialized knowledge to share? Twitch offers a platform for you to impress thousands of appreciative gamers globally.
Earn Money
For popular streamers, Twitch provides multiple ways to monetize your channel and turn your passion into a full-time career. Between subscriptions, donations and ad revenue, top creators can make over $100,000 per month:
| Revenue Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Subscriptions | Viewers pay $4.99/month for perks |
| Tips / Donations | Viewers tip you during streams |
| Ad Revenue | Twitch shares ad earnings |
The opportunity is massive if you can build a dedicated following over time.
Now let‘s get into the steps to start streaming!
Step 1: Create a Twitch Account
First things first – you‘ll need a Twitch account:
- Go to Twitch.tv
- Click Sign Up in the top right corner
- Enter your email, desired username, password, and birthday
- Check your email to verify and activate your new account!
Step 2: Set Up Your Creator Dashboard
The Twitch Creator Dashboard is mission control for all your streaming tools and analytics. Access it by:
- Clicking your profile picture
- Selecting Creator Dashboard
This is where you‘ll manage your entire stream setup and monitor performance metrics. So get very familiar with all it has to offer!
Step 3: Choose Streaming Software
To broadcast your gaming footage, you’ll need streaming software. Let‘s compare the most popular options:
Twitch Studio
Pros:
- Specifically designed for new Twitch streamers
- Very easy to use
- Deep integration with Twitch platform
Cons:
- Limited flexibility/customization
- Can only stream to Twitch (no YouTube etc.)
OBS Studio
Pros:
- Completely free & open source
- Ability to add many complex scenes/transitions
- Supports streaming to various platforms
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Requires manually adding browser sources
Streamlabs OBS
Pros:
- Based on OBS but more user-friendly
- Feature-rich alert system for follows/donations
- Easy built-in tools for chatbot, overlays
Cons:
- Can be resource heavy with add-ons enabled
- Primarily focused on live streaming
The easiest option for beginners is Twitch Studio, but advanced users may prefer OBS or Streamlabs for greater control.
Download & Install Your Chosen Software
Once you‘ve picked the best streaming software for your needs:
- Download the installer from their official site
- Run the installer, following any prompts
- Launch the software after installation completes
Be sure to choose a program your computer can smoothly run alongside whatever game you intend to stream.
Step 4: Set Up and Customize Your Stream
Inside your streaming software is where you’ll arrange all aspects of your broadcast:
Create Your Scenes
The main gameplay footage is known as a source. Most streams have at least two scenes:
- Starting Soon: Displayed before going live featuring a placeholder
- Live Scene: Shows the gameplay feed from your chosen source
Use additional scenes to display breaks, chat interactions, notifications and more.
I recommend these scenes to start:
- Starting Soon
- Main Gameplay
- Intermission/BRB
- Ending Scene
You can add sources like images, text, webcams, capture cards and more.
Pro Tip: Have one PC dedicated to encoding the stream, allowing your gaming rig to focus on performance.
Configure Video Settings
Under Video Settings, choose an output resolution and framerate that aligns with both your internet capabilities and computer hardware.
Most modern systems can comfortably stream 1080p video at 60fps. Target these settings for an optimal balance:
- Output Resolution: 1920×1080
- Frame Rate: 60fps
Review your video quality and adjust from there if needed.
Set Up Your Microphone(s)
For commentary, use a dedicated USB condenser mic for best voice quality rather than a basic headset.
In Audio Settings, set levels appropriately so your voice is clearly heard over the game audio without peaking. Add filters like noise suppression if needed.
Ideally, position the mic just off frame aimed at your mouth and consider acoustic treatment behind you to reduce echo.
Complete Stream Information
Under Stream Information, provide key details so viewers know what they‘re clicking on:
- Stream Title
- Game Category
- Tags
- Thumbnail Preview
- Content Rating
Fill these out accurately to set viewer expectations around what they‘ll see.
Optimizing Your Twitch Channel
Beyond just the streaming setup, leverage these tips to grow your viewership:
Pick the Right Games to Stream
Refer to TwitchTracker‘s directory to see currently popular titles. You‘ll have the most traction playing games with high active viewer counts.
Additionally, use Google Trends to identify fast rising new releases garnering interest. This data can help inform smart stream game selections.
Promote Your Stream
- Collab with other streamers in your chosen niche
- Create YouTube highlight videos to drive viewers to your channel
- Promote when live on Twitter and Reddit
Utilize paid Twitch ads if you have some starter capital to invest.
Moderate Your Chat
To foster a welcoming community:
- Establish clear chat rules
- Timeout rule breakers swiftly
- Add trusted moderators
Viewers will only return if you cultivate a positive environment.
The most important thing is to clearly and accurately set viewer expectations from the start. Validate you‘re playing titles viewers are actively seeking, communicate the experience you aim to provide, and engage thoughtfully with chat.
Get out there and start streaming! It may take perseverance to build an audience, but by consistently offering high quality, compelling content tailored to Twitch gamers, you can absolutely grow a thriving channel over time.
Good luck and happy streaming!
