We’ve said it before and we will say it again. Do you know that the gaming industry is worth more than the film and music industry combined?
With gaming playing such a large part in many people's lives across the world, it has a responsibility to promote diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and much more. There is no denying that gaming has been a predominantly white male dominated industry for a number of years - but things are starting to change.
In 2022, the male viewership on Twitch was estimated at 68% (Source: Statista), which was significantly higher than in 2017, when roughly 80% of Twitch users were male.
On an average day on Twitch, streams are watched in nearly 40 different languages. English takes the top spot with Spanish and Portuguese completing the top three.
Here at GG Talent Group, we pride ourselves on our company’s values and our diverse roster. Our creators span over 12 countries, with nearly 40% of our roster being female and 1-in-5 POC. We are lucky enough to represent a number of diverse creators who are really making waves in the gaming scene.
Allow us to introduce some of our diverse creators and find out what they think about diversity in gaming.…
Samora
Twitch: @samoraYouTube: @samoraeu
Samora is a Dutch Twitch Streamer and YouTuber who streams a variety of stuff, covering everything from FPS games, MMOs and more.‘Personally, I am happy where the direction of diversity within the gaming industry is heading , however, there is still a long way to go. For instance in the Netherlands where I am from, I honestly don't see a lot of creators from different backgrounds included in gaming campaigns. Often, it still feels like inclusivity only matters when the quota needs to be reached by companies and this should not be the case. A lot of people of color are gaming, and this should be reflected in campaigns, games and honestly anywhere in the gaming industry. Remember, representation matters, always’.
Sarthe
Twitch: @sarthe YouTube: @Sarthetv
Based in LA, Sarthe is a Twitch Streamer and YouTuber. He is a multiple time Rank 1 PVE player in WoW Classic and a speed-running expert. When he’s not streaming, he is also a podcast host and loves anything creative, whether it be in music, film or gaming. Sarthe said, ‘I’m personally really optimistic about the growth the gaming community has made when it comes to diversity and inclusion. I mostly play MMOs, which, to be honest, were some of the original places online where people could spread hate and bigotry while staying anonymous and facing almost no backlash. That’s completely changed. Now the games and their communities are all about support and inclusion. We’ve realized that everyone, no matter what you look like or what you believe, loves gaming. I think that can be seen in streaming culture as well. Streams used to be filled with negativity in the chat or on behalf of the streamer themselves and now most streams serve as an uplifting break from the weight of everyday life. I know we have a long way to go until the gaming world is completely inclusive and diverse, but we’re definitely on the right track and making the right moves’.
Luality
Twitch: @luality YouTube: @luality
From Brazil, to LA to Canada, Twitch Streamer and YouTuber Luality, loves to experiment with crazy ideas. She likes to play around with unique controllers and plays Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Dark Souls and Demon Souls on a dance pad.She said: ‘It was a friend of mine that suggested that I start streaming and my first reaction was ‘no’ because the internet was scary. But I decided to try it anyway and it turned out that the number of kind hearted people I've met was much greater than the few rotten apples. As a kid my mom shared the "girly" things with me and my dad shared "boyish" things so I got to the best of both worlds. Both guys and girls can enjoy whatever they like and I feel like people being overly restricted on what they could interact with as a child is what creates a lot of the toxicity we face today.To me, things are definitely going the right way, but it is also something each individual has to work on by making sure you have your boundaries set and not let people that you don't want around, stick around’.
So, things may be moving in the right direction but we still have a way to go and here at GG Talent Group, we make it our mission to make sure our creators and their communities feel supported and included.
Watch this space.