Promoting your game stream is crucial to building a dedicated following online. To get people to your gaming channel, you’ll need to use a bunch of other social platforms to get their attention and let them know what you have to offer.

Halloween is a golden opportunity for you to grow your channel and find larger audiences. Whether you’re running a stream on YouTube or Twitch, you can leverage online platforms to get your followers in the Halloween spirit. 

We’ve compiled a bunch of strategies for you to promote your game streams online during the Halloween season. By the time Halloween is over, chances are you’ll have a much bigger audience for your streams than what you started with. 

1. Host a social media contest

Getting frequent engagements on your social media posts is an important part of gaining an audience for your streams. So take advantage of the Halloween hype and run a Halloween-themed social media contest. 

Here are some ideas you should consider:

Pumpkin carving contest

Ask your followers to share photos of their carved pumpkins. Display the best ones during one of your streams and give them a shoutout. Make sure to let people know that you’ll be showcasing the best ones so that they tune into your streams.

Halloween costume contest

Ask your followers to share pictures of their best DIY Halloween costumes. Then, showcase them all in your game streams and ask people to vote for their favorites. The person with the best costume should get a prize e.g. a coupon for an online game. 

Scary story contest

Ask your followers to post videos of themselves telling their spookiest Halloween stories. Share them on your social media. Invite the people whose stories get the most interactions to do a joint stream with you so that you can ask for details and discuss the story. 

All of these contests will ultimately drive engagement from your social media to your gaming channel. Make sure to accompany each contest with its own hashtag so you can keep track of people’s posts. Most importantly, advertise these contests via a digital poster well in advance so as many people as possible can join in. You can make a poster in minutes with sites like PosterMyWall that have a wide range of Halloween poster templates.

2. Create some Halloween merch

Get in the spirit of Halloween by making some custom merch that everyone can buy, not just the people who watch your streams. With each order that’s placed, buyers will find out about your streams and will be inclined to check you out. 

You can even offer a discount on your merch to people who follow you on your gaming channel and social media and comment on your streams. Or better yet, do a giveaway! The top five people who share your streams and interact with you the most could be given a free hoodie, for instance. 

Here are some easy merch ideas for you to try:

• A plain black hoodie with a tiny ghost or pumpkin stitched on the front
• A graphic T-shirt with posters from some of the spookiest horror movies
• A witch’s hat with tiny cobwebs stitched on the front
• A skeleton key ring

Have your channel’s name stitched in small but visible letters on your merch. This way, whoever sees it will be inclined to visit your page. 

3. Play a scary game and stream it

What better way to celebrate Halloween and draw in spooky season enthusiasts than to play a scary game? Use your social media to get people’s opinions on what game you should play.

Wear a Halloween costume during your stream and encourage other people to do the same. This way, you can throw a virtual Halloween party. Have some Halloween treats ready that you can show to the camera. Make it as festive as you can. 

Here are some spooky games you can play:

• Slenderman 2D: Sanatorium
• Silent Hill Room 304
• The House 2

You don’t just have to do one Halloween stream. Do it a number of times during the weeks leading up to Halloween. Then, on Halloween night, play the scariest game as recommended by your followers, and hype up the event as much as possible on your social media. 

4. Spook up your channel

Your channel is like your home, and so, you need to decorate it for Halloween. Add Halloween puns to your description. Use darker colored thumbnails for your streams - shades of purple, orange, black, and white are ideal. 

To edit your Twitch layout, go to your channel, click on “Edit Panels”, and start adding some spooky panels to your channel.

This Halloween, get in on the Halloween hype and find new and exciting audiences for your game streams. These strategies will help you expand your reach and make you more popular this spooky season. Happy Halloween!

>>> More suggestions for your Halloween night: Top 10 Best Roblox Horror Games Multiplayer 2021

Twitch has been the largest streaming platform for many years now. Every month, millions of people flock to the service to watch their favorite streamers play games or just chat with their audience. Streamlabs, a leading live streaming service, recently released a report that shows just how dominant Twitch is compared to its biggest competitors.

Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Gaming: the numbers

There are several big players in the online streaming market. Facebook Gaming and YouTube have been trying to take over Twitch’s number one spot for years, but it doesn’t look like Twitch is going anywhere anytime soon. For the second quarter in a row, the Amazon-owned streaming platform has broken the record for most-watched hours in one quarter: 6.3 billion hours watched in Q1, compared to 5.4 billion hours watched in the previous quarter. That’s an increase of 16.5%.

Twitch represents over 72% of the live streaming market share in terms of viewership. In second place is YouTube Gaming Live, which attracts around 15.6% of the viewers. The third-biggest platform is Facebook Gaming with 12.1% of the viewers. Facebook has closed the viewership gap to YouTube Gaming significantly over the last year, but both platforms have a long way to go to reach the numbers of Twitch.

Here are some of the key numbers for Twitch from Streamlabs’ Q1 report:

• The “just chatting” category now accounts for 12% of all the traffic on Twitch.
• Viewers watched nearly one billion more hours of content on Twitch in Q1 compared to the previous quarter.
• Streamers broadcast 35 million more hours in Q1 compared to Q4.
• The number of unique channels reached an all-time high in Q1 (12.5 million unique channels).
• Average concurrent viewership increased more than 19% in Q1.

Most popular game categories on Twitch

One of the things that set Twitch apart from its competitors is the sheer number of channels and categories that is available on the platform. No matter the time of the day, users can visit the website or launch the app and scroll through thousands of live channels in a large variety of categories. Twitch is primarily a gaming streaming platform, but other categories such as just chatting have gained a lot of popularity over the last couple of years.

Another category that has become popular in recent years is the gambling category. The first gambling streams started to pop up around five years ago, and now there are thousands of them. In these streams, the audience watches gamblers play online slot machines, table games, and other types of gambling games with real money - often wagering thousands of dollars at a time.

When it comes to traditional gaming streams, the list of the most-watched games remains mostly unchanged. Games like League of Legends, Grand Theft Auto V, Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone are still among the most popular video games on the platform. But as previously mentioned, “just chatting” - a category in which the streamer casually interacts with their fans - has now become the biggest category on the service.

>>> Visit GuruGamer.com for more gaming reviews!

These days, instead of spending a lot of time downloading games to your console or PC, you can directly stream them to your device within a few minutes. Budget-friendly and easy-to-use options are always available even when you choose to pay a monthly fee for more various gaming collection or not, but which is the best game streaming service for PC on the market right now? 

However, the number of them is still quite limited, especially ones which provide easy accessibility and handy features. These following recommendations have been reviewed as well as discussed with great consideration. Therefore, if one of them can meet your demands, don’t hesitate to take it into account.

If nothing is your cup of tea, don’t worry, there are still tons of services out there waiting for you. But they can offer a less economical monthly fee, less usability, and less adaptability to your devices. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the list of the must-try options when it comes to game streaming service for PC, along with each service’s pros and cons. 

Nvidia GeForce Now

Nvidia GeForce Now is usually famous for its amazing performance and flexibility which are as qualified as current game streaming platforms. In detail, it allows users to make full use of their existing library to reduce the cost of a new one. Its operation is quite easy to follow as well: First, download GeForce Now app to your PC or Android device, on the condition that its system is compatible enough. After that, connect the app to your Steam, Uplay, or Epic Games library and simultaneously install a well-suited game on your remote machine. 

Once done, you can enjoy your game streaming on whichever platform you have chosen. Honestly, the process might sound quite complicated, but in fact, it is smooth and easily beyond your expectation. However, there are some possible risks that need much attention. Regarding compatibility, not all PC games can adapt to the requirements. Also, the addition of new games to the library of GeForce Now can make the whole system messy sometimes.  

PlayStation Now

At the time being, PlayStation Now is the only main game streaming service that allows smooth subscription. To have the best experience with it, you will need to equip yourself with a DualShock 4 controller, a monthly subscription fee, and either a PC or PS4. But don’t worry, what Sony provides you will surely deserve your investment, particularly the huge game library containing more than 650 game titles from PS3 and PS4. Some of which are located in the library forever, others are added and removed monthly by their publishers. 

Spending a lot of money does not mean you will receive an equivalent result, but it is true when talking about PS Now. You will have to be amazed at the collection of games offered to you, including series like God of War, Resident Evil, Ratchet & Clank, Red Dead Redemption, and Uncharted. Moreover, you can even have the best moment throughout the game at 1080p resolution. The PC and PS4 apps also run like clockwork, allowing players to enjoy the best of PlayStation exclusive titles. 

Google Stadia

Being the newest game streaming service, Google Stadia is still assumed to have the potential to be the most perfect one. On paper, it literally has everything that one person can dream about an ideal game streaming service in the future. Every single game can be purchased individually and played on almost all platforms. With the help of Stadia, you can stream to the vast majority of computers through Chrome, to TVs via Chromecast Ultra or to a myriad of Android smartphones through the Stadia app. It allows the use of any controller you own as well. 

In general, Google Stadia works smoothly and offers several interesting games, such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Doom Eternal. However, its graphics are not highly appreciated due to its poor quality compared to other PC or console counterparts. Moreover, its library is not regularly updated and does not own any special exclusive title. 

Game Streaming Service For PC - Verdict

After all of the aforementioned reviews, it can be concluded that Nvidia GeForce Now is the best game streaming service provided that you have a library of games on Steam, Uplay, or Epic Games Store. But if you think a pre-built library of hundreds of games is desirable, then PlayStation Now is the optimum choice. And if you have a special liking for various single games, Google Stadia streaming services will satisfy you. 

More details about Stadia, an upcoming game streaming service developed by Google, are finally unveiled. Its short description is irresistible: experience the newest video games such as the upcoming Ghost Recon Breakpoint without getting a console or PC that costs an arm and a leg.

However, in order to actually play games using Stadia, you will have to satisfy its conditions and requirements. Despite the ambitious attempt in marketing by Google to make Stadia more popular, the question "what problem will this tackle?" is still rising. In fact, there is no guarantee that players are willing to purchase video games that they can only enjoy via a streaming service on the internet.

A good internet connection is required

Stadia is reported to be available on a range of internet speeds. However, you will need a 35Mbps connection if you want to play your games at 4K 60fps. Or at least, a 10Mbps connection is required to stream at 720p 60 fps (which is ideal for you if you only use Stadia on your tablet or smartphone).

Despite the widespread popularity of Stadia, many customers might find its requirements are too hard to satisfy. The United States has an average internet speed of 18.7Mbps (in 2017). With that connection speed, watching Netflix in HD quality is a piece of cake, but playing Stadia games at 1080p 60 fps is not an optimal option.

Another issue is that some users can only use their internet for a limited amount each month. With a limit of 1TB of internet usage, you can have approximately 65 hours of playing Stadia at 4K 60fps before running out of data - and that's is in case you don't use your internet for anything but streaming video games. That amount of time sounds significant, but it is only the total playing time of a few hours each day, which is really very common.

Stadia isn't really portable

One interesting feature that Stadia offers is the ability to play your favorite game anytime, on any device, continue from wherever you left. That's great actually. But the fact is, you can only start Stadia on different devices at your place most likely(or at least somewhere that the Wi-Fi signal is strong enough).

As we all know, public Wi-Fi is unstable. You should never rely on it to play some Doom with Stadia and expect to have an enjoyable time with high-quality graphic and no delay. That means, Stadia is much likely to be a typical PC and console gaming (Nintendo Switch excluded) and will be used at home for most of the time.

If you want to stream with Stadia, you have to buy your games first

It is required that you need to buy your own game if you want to play it using Stadia, even with the $10 per month Stadia's Pro plan. Despite the promises from Google that there will be discounts for Pro users, we still don't know how good these discounts will be.

Good news for the games industry is that Google doesn't seem to apply a Spotify-style monetization system to its upcoming project. More specifically, developers will not be paid based on how many times users opened their titles, or on how many hours players spent with their games (in fact, several devs was really concerned about this when Google introduced Stadia). However, it unquestionably makes Stadia a less appealing alternative service for users.

Some people are questioning about our few rights over the products we purchase via platforms like Steam, but Stadia's even trips off more ownership rights from us. Through Stadia, every game will turn into an online-only title even though it's designed to be a singleplayer one. It's also scary to think about the worse scenario where Google shut down its service. What would happen to our Stadia library? Let's just take a look at one service that was terminated recently by Google - Google Plus itself!

Netflix and Spotify business is appealing due to the unlimited access they offer with a monthly fee. If you already had a game library for yourself, would you buy another  Stadia version of your owned titles on Steam or consoles?

Mobile is now the popular platform for some of the most well-known games

Mobile users have seen several popular titles got their own mobile versions such as Hearthstone, Fortnite, PUBG and even League of Legends. That also means players can enjoy the most popular games in the world using their affordable devices. They no longer need a super PC or laptop to take part in the gaming community.

Theoretically, it's would be ideal for Stadia if its users, for some reasons, want to play games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey or Rage 2 with the highest settings enabled, doesn't mind about portability, got their TV and other devices connected to an acceptable internet connection with a decent Wi-Fi signal (or even better, got all their devices wired with ethernet), and will not spend money on any hardware for gaming purpose except a controller, but totally agree on purchasing a membership that costs $10 each month for game discounts and 4K streaming.

Like what happened with Steam Machines developed by Valve, it's really hard to find a reasonable size market for Stadia.

A more possible, but less common Stadia user could be a player who already has a PC with old hardware, and usually use it to play games like CS:GO, but sometimes decides to spend his free time on graphically-intensive titles that their computer cannot handle, like Metro Exodus. Assuming that Stadia will work as expected, the service could find a niche there, but that's all about it.

However, Stadia hasn't been officially released, so what you just read is actually my speculation. Maybe there is a large number of people who willing to consume gigs of data to play NBA 2K or Final Fantasy 15 via Chrome, an unexploited market that we hardly know about because no developer can offer a streaming service that is good enough to do that.

We shall know the fate of Stadia soon enough. But what makes me doubt is the requirements on internet speed and data usage, the necessity to be online all the time, and the possibility of delay and quality loss when there is trouble with the internet connection (how Stadia will perform if another guy starts watching Netflix in the next room?).

Stadia seems to offer a cheaper experience, but the rising question is that is it going to provide a better one?

Apple’s announcement of Apple Arcade is a serious warning shot aimed at. Frankly, this subscription service seems like a dream for mobile gamers.

When it comes out this fall, users will have access to hundreds of wonderful premium games, all at the cost of a small subscription fee. As long as you own an iOS device, be it an iPad, iPhone, a Mac, or an Apple TV, everything will be playable, and there won’t be any ads or IAPs.

Basically, it’s the perfect solution to the greedy free-to-play scourge that has plagued the mobile gaming scene for years. Apple Arcade is the gateway through which premium games can rise again.

While that prospect is certainly exciting for iOS users, it’s terrible news for those with an Android device. The reason is simple: Apple Arcade is only available on iOS and so far, several upcoming high-profile titles such as Oceanhorn 2, Beyond a Steel Sky, and Where Cards Fall have been announced as exclusive to this subscription service, meaning they will never come to Android now.

Sad as it is, game developers are not to blame here. Piracy is so rampant on Android that they simply have to come up with an entirely new pay model if they want to launch a premium title on the platform. That’s why Android games are generally launched as free trials on Android with an IAP to purchase the full game instead of having an upfront cost like on iOS.

So yes, this is largely our fault. It was our own reluctance to pay for a mobile game – regardless of how well-made and worth-paying-for it is – that put us in this terrible spot where we have to deal with tons of greedy, lazily-designed cashgrab games on the Google Play.

But still, with the situation being as it is, it’s now up to Google to deliver a decent alternative. Piracy is not exactly anything new. For as long as we remember it has damaged the music, movie, and TV industry, resulting in those folks now turning to streaming services.

Google itself is heading towards that as well with the upcoming Stadia, but Apple Arcade is not a Stadia competitor. It has nothing to do with streaming. You don’t need to stay online at all time to access it. Once you’ve downloaded a game, you can play them anytime even without internet connection.

So, if Google doesn’t want Apple to fully take over the mobile market, it has to make a move, and soon.

On Monday we speculated that Google was going to announce a new game streaming platform at GDC that’d be available on a wide variety of devices, and it seems we were right.

Google Stadia is a brand new platform whose aim is to bring a high-quality gaming experience to everyone regardless of what devices they own. It is powered by Google’s worldwide data centers will be accessible on desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, TVs, and more. Stadia will even be compatible with YouTube, which allows users to instantly access whatever games they see straight from the Data Center. The idea sounds wonderful on paper, but we’ll have to see whether it delivers in practice. For now, an announcement trailer for Stadia is available, you can check it out below:

Google claims that Stadia is capable of streaming games in 4K resolution and 60 fps. Majd Bakar, Vice President of Google’s Project Stream, also said that the platform could achieve up to 120 fps and 8k resolution in the future. In a live demonstration of how Stadia works, Bakar had a person play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on a Chromebook, then switch to a phone, a PC, and then a TV. After each switch, the player could immediately continue from when the game was left off in the previous device. The upcoming Doom Eternal – a sequel to the 2016 FPS game DOOM – will reportedly be playable on Stadia as well, and no doubt it is just one title out of many that’ll support this platform.

 
The live demonstration where Assassin's Creed was played across multiple devices

Google will also release a new hardware to support its streaming platform: the Stadia Controller. It looks something like a hybrid between a PS4 and an Xbox One controller, with 2 analog sticks, a D-pad, 4 action buttons on the front, and triggers on the shoulders. This controller connects directly to Google’s servers through wi-fi so as to minimize input lag. Additionally, there is a “share” button that allows users to record their gameplay footage and share it with others on Youtube.

Stadia is expected to launch later this year, although no price tag has been specified yet.