Update 01/2/24 6:00 AM AEDT: After announcing her departure from Twitch, Imane “Pokimane” Anys posted on X/Twitter that her first-ever YouTube broadcast will go live on February 1 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET.
It’s a streamer showdown between some of Twitch and YouTube’s popular creators, including Ludwig and Pokimane (repping Team Red) and TinaKitten and Ryan Higa (repping Team Purple). The five-on-five brawl will see the streamers playing Codenames, League of Legends, and Valorant, with each winner getting 100 gifted subs, which gives viewers a membership to a channel and presents creators with the option to monetize that viewer’s subscription.
Original story follows below
One of Twitch’s most popular ladies won’t be streaming exclusively on the platform where she first became a star anymore. Calling it “the end of an era,” Imane “Pokimane” Anys announced her departure from the Amazon-owned site in an X/Twitter post on January 30. Accompanying the tweet was an official promotional image of the Twitch app featuring her face, an indication of just how closely she’s been associated with the site in the past.
Pokimane has been streaming since at least 2012. She officially created her Twitch channel in 2014 and in the decade since, she’s amassed some 9.3 million followers. Her personality is effervescent and she’s known for her great sense of humor. Her tenure on the platform has not been without controversy, of course; in November of 2023 she embarked on a cookie apology tour after calling one viewer who complained about the price of a snack she had launched a “broke boy.” Still, Pokimane has grown to become one of the faces of Twitch. Now, though, she’s saying her goodbyes and departing for greener pastures.
“Twitch has been my home for a decade,” Pokémon said. “But it’s time to say thank you for all the memories and love during my League, Fortnite, & Among Us days.”
The Amazon-owned company hopped into Pokimane’s mentions to congratulate her on the “incredible journey” she’s had these last 10 years, saying everyone’s proud of everything she’s accomplished while looking forward to seeing what she does next in her career. According to a Dexerto report, Pokimane explained that she’s not resigning a contract with Twitch because it’s “messy,” citing her desire to no longer be “emotionally invested in the changes” the company undergoes around things like artistic nudity. Basically, Pokimane just wants to have fun as a content creator, and as a result, she’s opting to take her talents everywhere instead of locking them to Twitch exclusively. You should expect to see her streaming on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube now.
Kotaku has reached out to Pokimane for comment.
We’ve had hints that this was coming for a little over a year now. Back in September 2022, Pokimane said that Twitch wasn’t “creatively fulfilling” any more, specifying that her intention was to stream less and use other platforms more. It seems she’s making good on this intention, as she hasn’t streamed on Twitch in about four days, but has been more active on other social channels.
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