Twitch Report Shows GTA V Still Dominates Streaming in 2024

Twitch, the Amazon-owned streaming platform, has released its year-end report for 2024, revealing that Grand Theft Auto V remains the most-watched game on the platform despite being over a decade old.

The numbers are impressive - GTA V racked up more than 1.4 billion hours watched globally, with streamers broadcasting the game for over 25.8 million hours. This continued dominance highlights the game's lasting appeal and sets high expectations for the upcoming GTA VI release.

According to Twitch's report, the platform captured over 60% of the global gaming livestream audience in 2024, with viewers watching more than 15.6 billion hours of content. The platform attracted an average of 105 million monthly viewers, cementing its position as the leader in gaming livestreams.

While GTA V took the top spot worldwide, other games also showed strong performance. Riot Games' League of Legends came in second with 1.19 billion hours watched globally and topped charts in European countries like Germany and France.

Competitive shooters maintained their popularity, with Valorant (804 million+ hours), Fortnite (539 million+ hours), and Call of Duty (451 million+ hours) all drawing significant viewership. Minecraft continued to show its timeless appeal with over 379 million hours watched.

One of the most notable trends in 2024 was the rise of VTubers - virtual avatars controlled by real creators. This streaming format saw 1.1 billion hours watched worldwide, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. The UK experienced particularly explosive growth, with British VTuber streams seeing a 200% increase in watch time.

Image: Ironmouse, a famous VTuber who became the most subscribed streamer on Twitch for a short while.

The EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region overall saw a 57% year-over-year increase in VTuber watch time. The United States, Japan, and the UK were the top three countries for VTuber viewership, with American creators producing more than 15 million hours of virtual content.

Twitch has also become a cultural hub beyond gaming. Some of the platform's biggest moments in 2024 included Kai Cenat's record-breaking 30-day Subathon (Mafiathon 2), which brought in 727,694 subscribers and featured appearances from celebrities like Snoop Dogg, John Cena, and Kevin Hart.

Image: WWE superstar John Cena promoting Kai Cenat's Mafiathon 2 subathon.

The platform has influenced popular culture through language as well. Sketch's catchphrase "What's up, brother!" was named Phrase of the Year, while Kai Cenat helped turn "Rizz" into a viral sensation that became Oxford University Press's Word of the Year for 2023.

Twitch also played a role in high-profile events such as the boxing event La Velada del Año, hosted by Spanish streamer Ibai, which peaked at 4.34 million concurrent viewers. The platform has attracted celebrities including Lizzo, Post Malone, and NFL players who use it to connect with fans in a more personal way.

GTA V's continued popularity on Twitch likely predicts massive success for its successor, Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to be one of the biggest game launches when it releases in fall 2025. Rockstar Games has already leveraged GTA V's massive audience for advertising, featuring real ads on in-game billboards and debuting new music on the game's radio stations.