Behind the Streams: The Off-Camera Labour of Game Live Streaming

Abstract

The live streaming of digital and analogue gaming has emerged as a major new topic in games research. One element involves understanding the labour of streaming: studies to date have focused on examining the ‘on-camera’ labour of streamers, but what has yet to be examined is their ‘off-camera’ labour. This includes developing stream aesthetics, networking with other streamers and viewers, building communities on other platforms and management and maintenance activities. These forms of labour are undertaken by those who broadcast for leisure purposes and those who aspire to a part-time or even full-time job in game streaming. Drawing on extensive interview data with professional and semi-professional live streamers, this article explores off-stream labour and the demands it makes on game broadcasters. The article sheds new light on the behind-the-scenes labours and lives of aspirational gaming live streamers, who are collectively becoming increasingly influential in global gaming communities.