The creator landscape continues to grow into a robust market within the ​​gaming industry, but Q1 2025 gave us some unmistakable signals about where the platform is headed next. From TimTheTatman's explosive comeback to the massive growth of games like Monster Hunter Wilds and GeoGuessr, the past few months have shown how fast attention can move and how valuable it is to understand that movement. The Xsolla Twitch Trends Report is a quarterly snapshot of what’s shaping the Twitch landscape, brought to you by the Xsolla Partner Network team. The first part of our quarterly Twitch Trends Report delves into the biggest developments around games and platform-wide momentum. We’ve analyzed the Twitch data that matters most to developers, publishers, and creators, highlighting:

• The top Twitch news stories driving viewership and conversation
• The biggest game surges based on total hours watched
• The fastest-growing games by percentage increase

This report combines platform data with expert insights to help you stay informed and adapt your growth strategies. Value for developers and publishers:

• Identify emerging titles and time launches around audience peaks
• Spot rising gameplay categories to align with creator interests
• Build more innovative campaign strategies based on real platform movement

Value for creators:

• Stay ahead of the curve by focusing on fast-rising games
• Discover what’s resonating with Twitch audiences right now
• Use these trends to guide content choices and fuel growth

The Findings

Recent industry news In this section, we’ll present the core findings and highlights uncovered by the Xsolla Partner Network team. We've identified the most significant movements shaping the platform this quarter by analyzing Twitch activity across creators, games, and viewer behavior. Top Twitch news stories Twitch continued to evolve as both a platform and a cultural engine. From blockbuster game debuts and surprise creator comebacks to viral hits and international growth, Q1 2025 highlighted Twitch engagement's dynamic and multi-dimensional nature. Below, we break down the most impactful stories, with actionable insights for developers, publishers, and creators alike. Marvel Rivals sustains top 10 position post-launch Following its December 2024 debut, Marvel Rivals proved it wasn't just a launch-week hit; it’s now a fixture in the Twitch ecosystem.

• Maintained top 10 placement in Twitch games throughout Q1, supported by competitive showcases, creator tournaments, and new hero updates.
• While it launched too late to make Q4’s Top 10 overall, it has ranked in the Top 10 games every month since release.

Takeaways
For developers and publishers, Marvel Rivals sets a benchmark for sustained Twitch relevance. Its success shows how continuous content drops and a creator-first strategy can build long-term momentum. For creators, it's a signal to stick with high-engagement titles that evolve over time. TimTheTatman Returns to Twitch, Ranks in Top 20 After time away from YouTube Gaming, TimTheTatman returned to Twitch, ranking #19 overall and becoming the #1 creator by percentage growth (+209%). His return was driven by his dominance in Call of Duty content and high-profile collaborations. Takeaways
Well-known creators returning to Twitch can still drive massive impact. For developers, aligning with returning personalities offers quick visibility. For creators, this proves that strategic returns, especially with a clear content plan, can rapidly reignite momentum. Monster Hunter Wilds debuts in Twitch top 10 Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds launched directly into the Twitch Top 10, a rare feat for new RPG releases. The game saw extended viewing sessions, driven by RPG-focused creators, and contributed to its strong global sales performance.

• One of the most-watched new RPGs of the quarter
• RPG streamers contributed to unusually long session durations.

Takeaways
Twitch-first launch strategies, especially when paired with playable previews, are becoming key to RPG success. Publishers can use Twitch to validate and amplify hype, while creators should watch for early-access opportunities that spark deep audience engagement. Japanese creator enters Twitch top 3 in Q1 In a major milestone for Twitch’s global growth, one of Japan’s biggest livestreamers, 加藤純, joined the platform, debuting at #3 in Q1. By streaming a mix of VALORANT and retro Pokémon, they attracted wide international appeal and cross-time zone engagement. Takeaways
Twitch's international creator base is diversifying and thriving. Developers and publishers should look to culturally relevant creators for regional impact, while creators can find global audiences by blending niche content with accessible formats. GeoGuessr grows 170% through viral content The geography guessing game, GeoGuessr, jumped 170% in hours watched, becoming the #2 fastest-growing game by percentage. This surge was driven by TikTok-friendly challenge content and short-form creator clips, which made the game highly shareable. Takeaways
Social virality can breathe new life into evergreen titles. For developers, short-form formats are critical for discoverability. For creators, games with viral potential (especially puzzle or challenge-based) can unlock new viewer segments. Live events drive peak twitch viewership in Q1 Events like VCT Kickoff, ESL Katowice, Kings League, and GDQ generated significant traffic and dominated Twitch’s charts. Additionally, event-focused channels such as ESLCS, BLASTPremier, and betboom_ru cracked the Top 50, outperforming average creator streams in peak CCU and total hours watched. Takeaways
Live events are now a core part of Twitch programming. Publishers and developers should explore co-branded events or game showcases. Creators can benefit by co-streaming or collaborating during event windows to tap into larger audiences. yourragegaming rejoins Twitch, enters top 50 Another high-impact return: yourragegaming jumped to #49 after previously streaming on YouTube and Kick. He quickly rebuilt his Twitch audience by leveraging Just Chatting and Fortnite, along with key collabs. Our takeaway
Multi-platform creators can successfully return to Twitch fast. Developers and sponsors should monitor platform shifts for partnership opportunities, while creators should focus on strategic timing and community momentum for successful reentry. Kings League boosts spanish viewership Spearheaded by Ibai, the Kings League maintained explosive growth, with viewership jumping +154% quarter-over-quarter. Both Ibai and loud_coringa ranked in the Top 10 creators globally, highlighting the reach of community-led sports content. Takeaways
Regional, creator-run leagues are now a major Twitch trend. For publishers, they offer hyper-loyal audiences and consistent engagement. For creators, these leagues present new formats for content innovation and collaboration. Wuthering Waves sees pre-launch viewership spike With global launch set for Q2, Wuthering Waves has already spiked in viewership. The +165% increase in hours watched came primarily from pre-release content, especially among anime, gacha, and lore-focused creators. Takeaways
Pre-release buzz is now high-value content. For developers, Twitch can be a major hype channel before launch. For creators, covering upcoming titles offers early audience capture and long-term channel growth. Co-streaming increases reach for esports broadcasts Q1 confirmed that co-streaming is a growth engine for esports. Channels like ESLCS, BLASTPremier, and betboom_ru hit the Top 50, while co-streamers frequently matched or exceeded the main broadcast in reach and engagement. Takeaways
Esports is growing and more distributed than ever. Publishers should embrace co-streaming as a strategy, not a threat, while creators can leverage co-streaming to gain legitimacy and ride the momentum of major events.

Biggest game surges

Let’s explore the 5 games that experienced the most significant surges in total hours watched on Twitch during Q1 2025. These titles stood out for their rapid growth in audience engagement through viral content, major updates, competitive events, or strategic creator support. Each game featured here demonstrated a sharp upward trend in visibility and viewership, making them key titles to watch for developers, publishers, and creators alike. 1. Marvel Rivals 88.5+ million hours watched Why it spiked:

• Built on a strong December 2024 launch with sustained Q1 content and creator activity
• Featured new hero updates, early competitive showcases, and creator-run tournaments\
• Retained interest across both FPS and Marvel fandoms, showing long-term audience potential

Key takeaway:
Marvel Rivals is emerging as a go-to title for creators seeking the next big hero shooter, especially in the absence of Overwatch 2 updates. 2. Counter-Strike 56.3+ million hours watched Why it spiked:

• Counter-Strike 2 continued gaining traction through consistent content updates
• Major esports events like IEM Katowice 2025 fueled a global surge in viewership
• Viewer trust remained strong as audiences transitioned from CS:GO to CS2

Key takeaway:
Competitive integrity and strong pro scene content continue to drive Counter-Strike's rise on Twitch. 3. Monster Hunter Wilds 44.4+ million hours watched Why it spiked:

• Q1 demo and hands-on previews by major creators generated buzz and interest
• Tapped into a loyal RPG and Monster Hunter fanbase, with long, high-retention streams
• Capcom activated Twitch drops and influencer campaigns to broaden its reach

Key takeaway:
A great example of how preview content and an established, highly engaged fanbase can create breakout Twitch moments. 4. VALORANT 35.6+ million hours watched Why it spiked:

• Riot Games released a new agent and map mid-quarter, refreshing ranked and competitive play
• The start of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) brought back high esports engagement
• Popular creators like Tarik and TenZ drove strong CCU spikes with regular content

Key takeaway:
Strong content cadence and creator partnerships has helped keep VALORANT evergreen on Twitch. 5. Escape from Tarkov 26.3+ million hours watched Why it spiked:

• A full wipe event, a proven driver of renewed player and viewer interest, occurred in Q1
• Surprise content updates introduced new weapons, maps, and game mechanics
• Leading creators like Pestily and Lvndmark, SheefGG, and WillerZ delivered high-engagement streams

Key takeaway:
Wipe cycles are a dependable viewership lever for hardcore extraction shooters like Tarkov.

Fastest-growing games

While total hours watched tell part of the story, percentage growth reveals another: the rise of unexpected contenders. This section focuses on games that saw the largest percentage increases during Q1 2025, spotlighting sleeper hits, resurging titles, and breakout performers that may not dominate the charts in absolute size but are rapidly gaining momentum. These games often signal early-stage growth curves, emerging communities, or untapped opportunities. Let’s take a closer look at which games made the biggest relative leaps this quarter. Monster Hunter Wilds +1,222% growth What drove the increase:

• Capcom’s early-access demo drew strong interest from both legacy fans and new players
• Coverage by high-visibility RPG and lore-focused streamers amplified discovery
• Twitch Drops offering in-game cosmetics incentivized longer viewer engagement

Key takeaway:
Deep, PvE action RPGs still command high interest on Twitch, especially when paired with a thoughtful, community-first rollout. For creators, this is a rich space for high-retention content and for developers, it underscores the value of preview-based launch strategies. GeoGuessr +170% growth What drove the increase:

• TikTok virality from short clips showcasing pinpoint geographic knowledge.
• Streamers capitalized on challenge formats like “no-move” or “country streaks,” boosting viewer engagement
• A surge in creator sign-ups and updates to the partner program helped formalize its presence

Key takeaway:
GeoGuessr shows how evergreen, low-friction games can explode with the right social momentum. For devs and publishers, it's a case study in content simplicity paired with viral format potential. For creators, it's a reminder that discoverability thrives on unique, shareable moments. Wuthering Waves +165% growth What drove the increase:

• Pre-release hype ahead of its April 2025 Steam launch sparked speculation and preview content
• Cross-audience interest from Genshin Impact fans, anime streamers, and gacha enthusiasts
• Lore discussions, alpha gameplay, and theory content created rich long-form streams

Key takeaway:
Wuthering Waves is becoming a major contender in the gacha RPG genre. For developers, the takeaway is clear: pre-launch narrative content and deep world-building drive Twitch engagement. For creators, early coverage in niche genres can establish long-term relevance. Marvel Rivals +161% growth What drove the increase:

• Twitch-exclusive alpha access gave creators a first-mover advantage in content creation
• Familiar IP attracted wide-ranging audiences beyond the typical hero shooter fanbase
• A coordinated marketing push with influencer seeding created rapid, high-volume buzz

Key takeaway:
Showcases the power of combining a recognizable IP with a creator-first launch strategy. Developers and publishers should note the effectiveness of limited-access campaigns, while creators can benefit from early alignment with titles designed for Twitch engagement. Kings League +154% growth What drove the increase:

• Weekly esports matches with a reality TV twist drove consistent, high-return viewer behavior
• Co-streamed by major Spanish-speaking creators, amplifying regional and cultural relevance
• The league’s format encouraged repeat viewership, turning casual audiences into regulars

Key takeaway:
Reinforces the growing power of creator-led, regionally focused esports formats. For publishers, it opens doors for localized tournament models; for creators, it demonstrates the potential of community-run programming as a long-term content engine.

Game trends are just the beginning

Q1 of 2025 has shown us significant growth in niche genres, regional esports channels, and fast-rising titles that gained traction through grassroots creator support. That means new opportunities for developers and publishers to reach engaged, often overlooked audiences, and for creators to grow their channels by leaning into what’s gaining traction. Xsolla Partner Network was built to help you act on these trends quickly and effectively. Whether you’re a developer or publisher planning your next campaign, or a creator looking for the right games to feature, we provide the tools to match, launch, and manage creator partnerships at scale. Stay tuned for the next part of our Q1 2025 Twitch Trends Report, where we’ll focus on the creators, including the fastest-growing streamers and top breakout creators on the platform. Ready to take the next step? For developers and publishers:

• Learn more about Xsolla Partner Network here
• Or sign up for a Xsolla Publisher Account to start your first campaign

For creators:

• Find your perfect campaign and launch it fast