Video game usage and live streaming has spiked as people self-isolate in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Data from Arsenal.gg that was provided to us in collaboration with streaming tools platform StreamElements found that global viewership has increased by 10% on Twitch and 15% on YouTube Gaming.
"With more stay-at-home mandates being issued around the world and the entertainment industry finding new ways to migrate their offerings to live streaming platforms, we expect to see these numbers rise," said StreamElements CEO Doron Nir in an email statement.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, US telecom firm Verizon found that online gaming has increased by 75% during peak hours in North America, while streaming is up 12%; overall web traffic is up nearly 20% but social media usage has remained flat.
"As we see more and more individuals work from home and students engage in online learning, it is a natural byproduct that we would see an increase in web traffic and access to VPN," said Verizon CTO Kyle Malady.
"And as more entertainment options are cancelled in communities across the US., an increase in video traffic and online gaming is not surprising."