Streamers Explain Why Gaming Overtakes TV for Gen Z Audiences

This past weekend, TwitchCon 2025 hosted the Milk Cup, a landmark $300,000 Fortnite tournament exclusively for female esports athletes. The event, organized by Gonna Need Milk and Raidiant, featured 50 top duos competing for the largest prize pool ever in women's gaming.

Ahead of the tournament, several players including Nina, Vader, Fraanticc, Kanary, Daya, Yaz, Moxie, and Regs discussed the growing popularity of gaming and streaming among younger generations. They noted that the unpredictable, fast-paced nature of esports, combined with the interactive, community-driven experience of live streaming, are key factors driving this shift away from traditional media.

"Compared to traditional sports, a lot of times with esports, it's really unpredictable. You can't really predict what's going to happen, or things can shake up, kind of crazy, and that draws people and keeps people's attention more," explained Vader. Fraanticc added that the ability to directly interact with streamers and fellow viewers creates a more relatable, engaging experience for viewers.

Indeed, streaming accounted for nearly half of TV usage this summer, surpassing traditional television, as younger consumers increasingly turn to social media and live content as their primary sources of entertainment and information.