Shroud says Twitch used to be “really easy” but now it’s hard work to get viewers

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Popular streamer Mike ‘shroud’ Grzesiek feels Twitch has gotten much more competitive lately. He says it used to be simple to succeed, but with so many new streamers, it now requires a lot more effort.

I remember when Twitch first came out – it was all about gaming! You’d watch people play, see amazing competitive matches, and even some esports pros would stream just for fun. But honestly, it’s grown into something way beyond just games now – it’s incredible how much it’s changed!

Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek, a former professional Counter-Strike player, began streaming even while still competing. He quickly became one of the most well-known figures on Twitch, and remained popular even after making a high-profile switch to Mixer in 2019.

He continues to stream on Twitch, but feels it’s become more challenging. Becoming a successful streamer now requires a lot more effort beyond just streaming itself.

Shroud says it’s “hard” to be top Twitch streamer now

He explained that things have shifted for gamers and streamers. It used to be enough to simply play and broadcast games, but now creating video content – like YouTube videos and TikTok shorts – is also necessary, as he shared in an Instagram clip on April 26th.

These days, getting noticed online often requires attention-grabbing, and sometimes controversial, behavior. While it might seem normal to new viewers, those who’ve been creating content for a long time may see it as overly sensationalized.

It used to be simple to gain viewers on Twitch. There weren’t many people streaming at all, so even a small stream could get noticed. I specifically remember when I streamed Counter-Strike – there were only around 20 people streaming in that game category total.

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A post shared by Michael Grzesiek (@shroud)

The retired Counter-Strike player explained that the increase in Twitch streamers makes it difficult for anyone to get noticed. Streaming has become more than just a part-time job or hobby for many people now.

He explained that being a bit rough around the edges with your content isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but experienced streamers will likely notice.

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2026-04-27 14:50