An ongoing event promoting the launch of Overwatch 2 beta titled ‘Support a Streamer’ has ironically left many smaller Twitch streamers excluded.
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An online event hosted by Blizzard has caused outrage among many smaller Twitch streamers after concerns that it excludes them in an ironically sick way.
As reported by PC Gamer, the Twitch event, titled Support a Streamer, has Blizzard partnering with select streamers to give away an exclusive Brigitte skin to promote the launch of Overwatch 2 beta, which sets to replace the first game in October. Over 150 streamers are participating, including xQc, Asmongold and TPAIN, some of the biggest channels on Twitch. However, this list has left many smaller streamers upset. Many feel that the Support a Streamer promotion opts to put more money into the hands of popular streamers who are already well-off while snubbing much smaller streamers who may need the support.
“[The event] absolutely ruined my evening. I was so, so hyped for tomorrow, and they dropped this, and I was really shocked to see that list and the requirements,” said Overwatch streamer Gwadael in an interview with PC Gamer. “It’s not ‘support a streamer,’ it’s ‘support the streamers we chose because we said so.'” Gwadael has never been contacted by Blizzard, even though she has streamed the game since 2018 and devotes 15 to 20 weekly to it.
To get the Brigitte skin, viewers must donate at least three subscriptions to one of the participants while the channel is live streaming Overwatch. After that, Twitch will send them a code that can be redeemed on Battle.net. The issue that becomes very apparent, and is also part of the reason that many small streamers are angry, is that Twitch streamers will receive 50% of profits from each subscription, which costs $4.99. Factor that in with someone like Asmongold, who has over 3.3 million followers on Twitch, and you start to realize how much money a popular streamer could make, especially when said streamer is most likely not in need of such profits.
After losing almost 100% of its audience just a week after its beta launch, Overwatch 2 and its Support a Streamer event has been just another blade of grass in a string of controversies stemming from Blizzard and its parent company Activision Blizzard. This has ranged in past months from the pay-to-win design of Diablo Immortal becoming the most hated game in decades to a series of lawsuits alleging harassment in the Activision Blizzard workplace. These issues have caused many once longtime and devoted fans of popular Blizzard games such as World of Warcraft and StarCraft to turn their backs on the company.
The Support a Streamer promotion runs from June 29 to July 30.
Source: PC Gamer