One of the most popular streamers on Twitch, Pokimane, has made the announcement that she will be leaving the platform. It is unclear at this time whether she plans to retire from content creation altogether or if she will be moving to a different platform.
“twitch has been my home for a decade,” Pokimane wrote on X. “but it’s time to say thank you for all the memories and love during my League, Fortnite, & Among us days.”
When Twitch streamers’ payout data was leaked in 2021, Pokimane — whose real name is Imane Anys — was the highest-earning woman streamer on the platform. As she departs Twitch, she has 9.3 million followers, making her the tenth most-followed user. As one of the first women of color to emerge to Twitch stardom in a male-dominated gaming culture, Pokimane’s influence is palpable.
“What an incredible journey it’s been,” Twitch’s X account responded to Pokimane’s announcement. “We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and what’s ahead in the future. You’ll always have a home on Twitch, Poki.”
Over the last few years, many top streamers have left Twitch for exclusive deals with other platforms like YouTube, or the newer Kick. Kick offers creators 95% of their subscription revenue, which is a huge upgrade over Twitch’s 50-50 baseline split; streamers in Twitch’s Partner Plus program can make a 70-30 split.
Twitch is in a period of disarray. The Amazon-owned platform has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs in the last year as it struggles to turn a profit — in 2024 alone, Twitch has laid off 500 employees, who made up 35% of the workforce. The company shut down service in South Korea, one of the world’s largest esports markets, and it sowed discord in its community over confusing and ever-changing payout structures.
Although Kick provides creators with a better revenue share, it may not necessarily be a better alternative. Kick is known for its lax content moderation and has become a new home for some streamers who were banned from Twitch. It has also attracted streamers due to its allowance of gambling content, which Twitch banned last year.
Pokimane is unlikely to be taking her talents to Kick, though. In June, she stated in a stream that profiting from Kick would go against her “morals and ethics.”
Perhaps it’s just time for Pokimane to take a break from the internet. Recently, some high-profile YouTube creators like MatPat and Tom Scott have announced their retirement, sparking discourse about how creators decide when it’s time to move on.
Without any official statement, it’s difficult to predict what’s next for Pokimane, but her departure from Twitch certainly marks a significant moment for the struggling platform.
