GameSquare's Stream Hatchet Publishes 2025 Q1 Live Streaming Trends Report

Rhea-AI Summary

GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME) subsidiary Stream Hatchet has released its Q1 2025 Live Streaming Trends Report, revealing significant growth in the streaming industry. The report highlights that live streaming reached 8.9 billion hours watched in Q1 2025, marking a 9% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly level since 2021.

Key findings include:

• Non-gaming content emerged as the most-watched category, up 25.6% YoY
• While Twitch declined 6.9% YoY, platforms like Kick (+112%) and YouTube Gaming (+25%) drove market expansion
• Esports viewership dropped 2.3% YoY but achieved five-year high average viewership per tournament
• Monster Hunter Wilds achieved strongest day-one viewership since early 2023 with 10M+ hours watched
• Platform landscape shifts saw Kick's Arabic viewership grow 491%, while Facebook Live dropped from Top 10 with 77% YoY decline

Positive

• Stream Hatchet reports 9% YoY growth in total streaming hours to 8.9B
• Non-gaming content category grew 25.6% YoY
• Average esports tournament viewership reached five-year high
• Significant platform diversification with new entrants in Top 10

Negative

• Twitch platform experienced 6.9% YoY decline in viewership
• Overall esports viewership dropped 2.3% YoY
• Facebook Live dropped out of Top 10 with 77% YoY decline

Live streaming surges 9% year-over-year to 8.9 billion hours watched during the 2025 first quarter, reflecting the highest quarterly level since 2021

View the report: https://streamhatchet.com/reports/q1-2025-live-streaming-trends-report/

FRISCO, TX / ACCESS Newswire / April 24, 2025 / Stream Hatchet, the leading provider of data analytics for the live streaming and gaming ecosystem and wholly-owned subsidiary of GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME), ("GameSquare", or the "Company"), has released its Q1 2025 Live Streaming Trends Report. The report reveals key insights into the evolution of the global live streaming market across gaming, esports, and entertainment.

Access to the report is available at https://streamhatchet.com/reports/q1-2025-live-streaming-trends-report/

"Stream Hatchet's 2025 Q1 report shows live streaming's positive momentum as it remains one of the fastest growing forms of media and content globally," said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare. "Stream Hatchet's reports continue to quantify the dramatic shift in how audiences are consuming media, reflecting trends to more interactive content and engaging experiences."

Key Insights from Stream Hatchet's 2025 Q1 Report:

1.		8.9 billion hours watched in 2025 Q1, reflecting the highest quarterly level since 2021
		The report highlights a 9% year-over-year (YoY) increase in total hours watched across major live-streaming platforms, signaling continued growth in the industry despite shifting platform dominance.
		While Twitch saw a 6.9% YoY decline, competitor platforms Kick (+112%) and YouTube Gaming (+25%) drove overall market expansion.
2.		Non-gaming content dominates
		Non-gaming content emerged as the most-watched category, up 25.6% YoY, led by platforms such as Kick, Chzzk, and SOOP Korea, each recording ~94% YoY growth in the category.
		Diversification underscores the broadening appeal of streaming as a mainstream content format.
3.		Esports remains resilient despite fewer events
		While esports viewership dropped 2.3% YoY due to a reduced number of events, average viewership per tournament reached a five-year high, with major events like LCK Cup and Intel Extreme Masters contributing significantly.
4.		New platforms and languages shake up the ecosystem
		The report also covers the shifting platform and language landscape:
		Kick's Arabic viewership grew by 491%, overtaking English as the platform's top language.
		Chzzk and Rumble joined the Top 10 platforms for the first time.
		Facebook Live fell out of the Top 10, dropping 77% YoY in viewership.
5.		New game launches captivate audiences
		Monster Hunter Wilds delivered the strongest day-one viewership of any title since early 2023 with 10M+ hours watched in its first 24 hours.
		Meanwhile, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Schedule I broke into the Top 10 most-watched new titles, the latter boosted by heavy adoption among top Twitch streamers.

For more information on Stream Hatchet and insight into the esports and streaming markets, please visit their website at www.streamhatchet.com.

About GameSquare Holdings, Inc.

GameSquare's (NASDAQ:GAME) mission is to revolutionize the way brands and game publishers connect with hard-to-reach Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennial audiences. Our next generation media, entertainment, and technology capabilities drive compelling outcomes for creators and maximize our brand partners' return on investment. Through our purpose-built platform, we provide award winning marketing and creative services, offer leading data and analytics solutions, and amplify awareness through FaZe Clan Esports, one of the most prominent and influential gaming organizations in the world. With one of the largest gaming media networks in North America, as verified by Comscore, we are reshaping the landscape of digital media and immersive entertainment. GameSquare's largest investors are Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Goff family.

To learn more, visit www.gamesquare.com.

About Stream Hatchet

Stream Hatchet delivers real-time, actionable insights into the gaming and live-streaming ecosystem across 16 platforms. From performance benchmarking to campaign ROI and influencer intelligence, Stream Hatchet empowers game publishers, brands, agencies, and tournament organizers with the industry's most granular data and reporting tools.

For more information visit www.streamhatchet.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the Company's and FaZe Media Inc.'s future performance, revenue, growth and profitability; and the Company's and FaZe Media's ability to execute their business plans. These forward-looking statements are provided only to provide information currently available to us and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, assurance or definitive statement of fact or probability. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions which include, but are not limited to: the Company's and FaZe Media's ability to grow their business and being able to execute on their business plans, the Company being able to complete and successfully integrate acquisitions, the Company being able to recognize and capitalize on opportunities and the Company continuing to attract qualified personnel to supports its development requirements. These assumptions, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to achieve its objectives, the Company successfully executing its growth strategy, the ability of the Company to obtain future financings or complete offerings on acceptable terms, failure to leverage the Company's portfolio across entertainment and media platforms, dependence on the Company's key personnel and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. These risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company which are discussed in the Company's most recent MD&A. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. GameSquare assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Corporate Contact
Lou Schwartz, President
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: ir@gamesquare.com

Investor Relations
Andrew Berger
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: ir@gamesquare.com

Media Relations
Chelsey Northern / The Untold
Phone: (254) 855-4028
Email: pr@gamesquare.com

SOURCE: GameSquare Holdings, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What was the total streaming hours watched in Q1 2025 for GAME's Stream Hatchet report?

According to Stream Hatchet's Q1 2025 report, total streaming hours reached 8.9 billion, representing a 9% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly level since 2021.

How did different streaming platforms perform in Q1 2025 according to GAME's report?

While Twitch declined 6.9% YoY, Kick grew 112% and YouTube Gaming increased 25%. New platforms Chzzk and Rumble joined the Top 10, while Facebook Live dropped out with a 77% decline.

What were the key trends in non-gaming content for Stream Hatchet Q1 2025?

Non-gaming content became the most-watched category with 25.6% YoY growth, with platforms like Kick, Chzzk, and SOOP Korea each recording approximately 94% YoY growth in this category.

How did esports viewership perform in Stream Hatchet's Q1 2025 report?

Despite a 2.3% YoY drop in overall esports viewership due to fewer events, average viewership per tournament reached a five-year high, with major events like LCK Cup and Intel Extreme Masters driving significant engagement.