TOS.gg creator and streaming commentator Zach Bussey has created a timeline-based data visualization, tracking Twitch’s all-time watch hour leaders. The chart, ranking streamers by total cumulative watch hours, displays the dramatic shifts that have taken place on the site over the last decade.
The evolving graph, with data taken from SullyGnome, was uploaded to YouTube today on Zach Bussey’s channel. An embedded version of the video has since made the rounds on Reddit.
It should be noted that the data ignores brands and group accounts (such as those belonging to eSports teams), but instead focusing on individual streamers.
The piece tracks cumulative watch hours over months, starting at August 2015 and going until November 2025. Looking at the start of the graph, the culture at the top of the pole was clearly different, although there are some streamers that have toughed it out over the decade. For instance, Sodapoppin’s streams have managed to retain consistent-enough numbers to keep the creator in the top 20 across ten years.
Lirik’s variety streams are another example, with the streamer going from the number one spot in 2015 to a still-respectable eighth place today.
Taking a look at the current leaderboard, there are few surprises. xQc saw explosive growth that during the pandemic era, remaining in the peak position since 2021. Other familiar faces in modern top 20 include Hasan, Asmongold, Kai Cenat, and more.
The evolution of Twitch dominance
The visual display of this data does a great job when it comes to properly marking eras on Twitch, as well as eras online in general. For instance, Ninja’s massive growth is shown as a major stranglehold from 2018 to 2019, but his exclusivity contract with Mixer sees his count freeze, allowing for a new wave of creators to take over. Ninja has remained in the top 20 despite his Mixer sabbatical, but he certainly took a major hit.
On a related note, the data also visualises similar aberrations, which stand less as period marks and more as a showcase of major site events. A key instance of this is with the Dr. Disrespect allegations. Dr. Disrespect’s numbers remained steady following his rise in 2018, but his permanent ban in 2020 saw him tumbling back down. Of course, the reasons behind what happened that year would only come to fruition in 2024.
