YouTube Gaming announces a string of new streamers, including Valkyrae

YouTube Gaming revealed today that they have signed three creators to stream exclusively on the platform. These creators include Elliot “Muselk” Watkins, Lannon “Lazarbeam” Eacott, and Rachel “Valkyrae” Hofsetter. All three streamers have been teasing this announcement for a couple of days, and now it’s official.

While Muselk and Lazarbeam have been exclusively creating on YouTube, Valkyrae is another former Twitch streamer moving to greener pastures. This marks half a dozen big Twitch streamers who have left the platform in the last several months. Seeing as other streaming sites like YouTube and Mixer are offering huge contracts, this trend likely isn’t going to change.

YouTube Gaming adds more streamers

While Twitch still thoroughly dominates in viewership, YouTube is trying to climb the ranks. After signing Jack “CouRageJD” Dunlop in late 2019, the website proved they’re serious about going after Twitch’s market.

Today is further proof YouTube Gaming is pulling out all the stops to up their streaming service. Muselk and Lazarbeam are two of the biggest Fortnite creators on the platform, each having over 8 million subscribers. With both of them hailing from Australia, this move for them comes at the best time possible.

So excited to announce Im now going to be streaming EVERY week on Youtube! Cant wait to put even more content out on the platform which has been home for my entire career! Going be starting TODAY in 5 hours with a huge #FightTheFires Charity Stream! Donating $1000 for every VR! pic.twitter.com/ZGeYuvNPGe

— Muselk (@muselk) January 13, 2020

Annoucement.

I will now be streaming exclusively on YouTube every week.

Definitely didn’t sleep through the biggest announcement of my career nope not this guy pic.twitter.com/AYhIVim5I4

— LAZAR (@Lazarbeam) January 13, 2020

With the bushfires ravaging Australia, Muselk’s initial streams will benefit the relief efforts in his home country. It’s unknown if Lazarbeam will follow suit, but it’s expected that he’ll do something for Australia.

Valkyrae, on the other hand, will debut on the platform on Jan. 14. Streaming mainly Fortnite like Muselk and Lazarbeam, the 100 Thieves member should maintain steady viewership thanks to her successful YouTube channel. Currently, she sits at 823,000 subscribers.

While this doesn’t affect Twitch as largely as the other big moves, it is significant nonetheless. Valkyrae had been streaming on Twitch for her entire career, but YouTube apparently made an offer she couldn’t refuse. Now, a solid chunk of 100 Thieves is a part of YouTube Gaming, which could be a sign of things to come for the other members.