Yesterday evening, Variety posted that based on sources, Youtube is planning to acquire Twitch for $1 billion. This sparked an explosion in the Twittersphere, here are some of the reactions:
Some people got some press, and probably an influx of panicked questions…
Things I know: I was used in the @USATODAY article about Twitch being bought. Things I don’t know: If Twitch is being bought. Sorry guys <3
— Cohh (@CohhCarnage) May 18, 2014
Some were optimistic about the potential acquisition…
YouTube buying Twitch solves both companies major problems. YT now has a live gaming audience and Twitch can now effectively sell ads — gootecks (@gootecks) May 18, 2014
All in all… at least they couldn’t possibly make Twitch chat any worse. — Oshi7 (@OshiSeven) May 18, 2014
So what are we going to call it? Youtwitch? Twitube? I look forward to put kappa emotes on YouTube comments — BraveSirCheeto (@BraveSirCheeto) May 18, 2014
The validity of the article was questioned…
For those asking about the story today, Twitch doesn’t comment on rumors. — Chase (@ChasejustChase) May 18, 2014
Yea if @MLG makes the right moves they can be in the path of @Twitch and it’s video game streaming success. — (@G4M3RxG0D) May 18, 2014
Google has a track record of buying up companies, incorporating their tech and then shutting them down. Could be the end of Twitch. — Richard Stanway (@R1CH_TL) May 18, 2014
When Variety isn’t sniffing around trying to get upskirts of Lindsay Lohan they make up bullshit articles for web traffic. — Beardly McBeardson (@EatMyDiction1) May 18, 2014
Twitch probably makes $1 billion when League of Legends champs are going on, what makes you think they’d sell it for that? Like pls. — Renée Reynosa (@lolrenaynay) May 18, 2014
Calm. Down. Sheesh. — Lorg (@Lorg_) May 18, 2014
Some people still missed the point. If you think twitch is worth only 1 billion dollars you are crazy. — Matt McKnight (@LethalFrag) May 19, 2014
Many people were unfavorable towards YouTube buying Twitch…
Overall Thoughts on this @youtube @twitch buyout nonsense… NEGATIVE feels due to some of youtube’s copyright policy. Competition > buyout — AgentNorth (@AgentNorthTV) May 18, 2014
If Twitch makes this move, then Goodbye Twitch for MANY people. This is also including myself. — Eric M. (@KingOfGaems) May 18, 2014
So Google basically has a monopoly on videos and streaming now. Wow. — Sean Clanton (@sean_clanton) May 18, 2014
@TwitchBrotatoe Hope it’s not true, tired of the mad-grab game all the major players are doing lately. You don’t need to own all the things! — Underinspired (@Under_Inspired) May 18, 2014
I pray that YouTube buying twitch is not true — Dan (@Dansgaming) May 18, 2014
Hitbox here I come….. — David (@Wyattearp1989) May 18, 2014
Thankfully some Tweeters provided some comic relief…
inb4 people start blaming youtube for the delay on twitch — Dandre (@idkSienz) May 18, 2014
For $1bn YouTube could have bought half of Red Lobster. That’s the direction I would have gone. — Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) May 18, 2014
@Arawulf Nothing but royalty free music on Twitch here in the future 😛 — Blankspace (@realblankspace) May 18, 2014
“You know what would make Twitch better? FORCED GOOGLE+ INTEGRATION” said nobody ever. Well…. except Google+ — Oliver Age 24 (@OliverAge24) May 18, 2014
Twitch Plays [This stream is no longer available due to a copyright claim] — Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) May 18, 2014
if “billion” is a typo for “trillion”, then that seems about right — Danny Baranowsky (@dannyBstyle) May 18, 2014
“I’m moving to Hitbox” is the new “I’m moving to Canada” — Ryan Letourneau (@NorthernlionLP) May 18, 2014
Google/YouTube buying Twitch means the NSA will finally find out that most of us suck at Spelunky. — Fork Parker (@ForkParker) May 18, 2014
And some started the YouTube-Twitch merger early…
Sorry but i couldnt resist… pic.twitter.com/pWLO2nXPbh — Julia Cassian (@Julia_CaSsian) May 18, 2014
Lol I had to pic.twitter.com/yof2fpTaBZ — Matt Zagursky (@Sevadus) May 19, 2014
I’m betting this is what we’ll be seeing come friday.. pic.twitter.com/Cy8lzv9Fy0 — Sattelizer (@SattelizerGames) May 19, 2014
Overall, the news sparked a negative reaction from streamers and viewers alike. The news has yet to be confirmed and it still has to pass through the Justice Department’s anti-competitive evaluation, but if this happens expect Twitch to change.
I, for one, am totally against this. I feel like it will bring in a decline to Twitch. Twitch is starting to enter its golden period where it will shine. Taking this deal will force many restrictions onto the service and might also force many streamers out of a job. I’m hoping that it doesn’t go completely through but I can’t see a team like Twitch giving up that much money after developing a successful product like Twitch. Money = everything lately.
Personally, I think everyone is overreacting. Nearly every day you see half of twitch users complaining about twitch. Would YouTube/Google buying Twitch result in changes? Most likely, but is it a bad thing? I’m not sure that it would get any worse.
Who knows how this will play out, but until we hear anything official, there’s no point in fretting over it now. I can see Google leaving Twitch the way it is, but possibly making ads play no matter what, without the streamer’s control, because that’s the business Google is in. If anyone remembers when Google implemented being able to sub (pay for sub) to certain Youtube channels, then you can see Twitch already follows this format very closely.
If Twitch is bought out, I do see Google intervening more in what content is actually broadcast though, as opposed to how lax Twitch currently is with it’s content.
Of course, this is all speculation.