Twitch drama is brewing as Overwatch streamer Flats challenges fellow content creator TheStockGuy’s claim that there’s no “Adpocalypse” on the platform. Flats took to his Twitch audience, armed with screenshots of his streaming metrics, to argue that Twitch is indeed facing a significant ad revenue decline.
Flats shared data showing a steep drop in his ad income, despite maintaining similar viewership and streaming hours. He compared recent earnings to previous months when Overwatch events brought in high viewer numbers, painting a grim picture of his current financial situation.
Not everyone’s buying what Flats is selling. Critics in the streaming community quickly pointed out that the days Flats chose for comparison coincided with major Overwatch events, which typically spike viewer numbers. They argued that his usual metrics might not reflect an overall decline in Twitch’s ad ecosystem.
The streaming community didn’t hold back, accusing Flats of cherry-picking data and potentially manipulating the narrative for attention. Some viewers even suggested that Flats’ aggressive ad strategy, especially during Twitch drop events, might be driving more people to use ad blockers.
Twitch’s “Drops” system, which rewards viewers for watch time, can create temporary spikes in viewership. Some argue that streamers like Flats might be overusing ads during these peak times, potentially hurting his long-term ad revenue.
The so-called “Adpocalypse” isn’t a new concept on Twitch and other platforms. It typically refers to sudden changes in platform policies or algorithms that dramatically affect creators’ ad revenue. However, determining if such an event is actually happening systematically can be tricky, as individual streamers’ experiences may vary widely.
