Skip to main content

The gaming stream dries up in China as government cuts access to Twitch

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Livestreaming service Twitch allows players to broadcast their best gaming moments to viewers all over the world, but it appears that not every government is on board with this idea. The website and app have both been banned in China, and Chinese video game fans aren’t left with a good alternative.

First reported by Abacus, the Twitch website became inaccessible in mainland China this week, along with its companion app on the Apple Store. Twitch later confirmed that this wasn’t an error, but a deliberate move made by the Chinese government — though the company wasn’t sure why it happened so suddenly.

It’s particularly odd considering that China currently has a team in The Overwatch League, which broadcasts all of its matches on Twitch. The Shanghai Dragons will be joined next season by teams in Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou. If the ban stays in effect, it seems local viewers in all four of these cities would be unable to watch their teams’ games on Twitch.

YouTube won’t be an option, either. The site has been blocked in China for nearly a decade, and it’s unlikely this will change anytime soon. Chinese platforms like ZhanQi TV and Panda TV are used, though we’re sure Chinese viewers want to show their support for their favorite teams on more interactive services.

It isn’t all bad for players in China, however. Back in 2015, the country lifted a ban on game consoles, opening the door for citizens to experience a huge number of previously inaccessible games. Without access to Twitch or YouTube, they won’t be able to stream their gameplay to people around the world, but perhaps some sort of deal can be reached with China in the future.

Streaming for Twitch on the current-generation consoles — excluding the Switch — couldn’t be easier. You don’t need any capture card or special software, with the consoles themselves broadcasting the games, and you can even include a face-cam if you own the Kinect or a PlayStation Camera. The process is similarly easy on PC, where free programs like OBS allow users to broadcast their gameplay with just a few clicks.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Twitch now lets streamers share info on banned users
A gamepad is pictured as a screen displays the online Twitch platform.

Twitch is stepping up its efforts to make the platform safer by rolling out Shared Ban Info, a new safety tool that enables streamers to share information with other streamers about users they have banned from their chats.

Shared Ban Info, which the streaming platform announced in a blog post on Thursday, is an update to the Ban Evasion Detection tool it rolled out in November. It operates as a network that helps content creators protect themselves and each other from harassment. The process is a two-way street. A streamer sends a request to another streamer -- be it a partner, affiliate, or mutual follower -- to share their ban list. Once they accept the request, the streamer who sent the request consents to have their ban info shared with that channel as well. Right now, a streamer can have 30 sharing relationships at most.

Read more
How to set up two-factor authentication on Twitch
A gamepad is pictured as a screen displays the online Twitch platform.

Having accounts on any online platform linked to your email or other accounts comes with a risk, even on Twitch. If you don't have two-factor authentication set up on your Twitch account, you should enable it now.

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, keeps your data safe from anyone trying to access your account and linked accounts, including hackers and platform data breaches. You also need it turned on if you want to stream on Twitch. Checking your phone for a verification code every time you log into Twitch may seem like overkill if you're just on the platform as a viewer, but you likely have your account connected to your email address, other social media accounts, and even payment methods.

Read more
Twitch viewers watched way more video game streams in 2021
A gamepad is pictured as a screen displays the online Twitch platform.

Video game viewership was way up in 2021. According to a year-end report from Rainmaker.gg with insight from StreamElements, both Twitch and Facebook gaming saw a nearly 50% increase in hours watched this year.

According to the report, Twitch saw a 45% increase in hours watched this year, totaling 24 billion views. That was up from 17 billion in 2020. Facebook Gaming saw a similar boost, going from 3.6 billion to 5.3 billion hours watched, a 47% increase.

Read more