Twitch, the Amazon-owned video live-streaming platform, recently shared some fascinating stats—such as which game attracted the most watch hours in 2024. At the top of the list? A household name that launched more than a decade ago, proving that newer doesn’t always mean better.
I’d hate to keep you waiting any longer, so let’s dive into which game is crushing it on Twitch, how it managed to get to the top, and a few other key highlights from the announcement.
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The Biggest Game on Twitch
If you haven’t already guessed, the game that drew the most viewership on Twitch last year was none other than the open-world, action-adventure sandbox: Grand Theft Auto V.
Streams of GTA V have racked up over 1.4 billion watch hours—a tremendous feat for a title that’s nearly 12 years old. Still, for those paying attention, it’s no surprise. GTA V consistently ranks among the most-watched titles on Twitch year after year and was the most-viewed game in 2023, too.
More Twitch Highlights and Trends
When you claim the #1 spot the way GTA V did, you’re bound to steal most of the limelight. But League of Legends also had a huge year, pulling in over 1.19 billion watch hours.
League of Legends was neck-and-neck with GTA V throughout most of 2023, with GTA V only breaking away in the final days of the year. It has worn the crown many times before, though, so in a way, this was GTA V reasserting itself as the top dog.
Trailing behind these two juggernauts were some familiar faces:
- Valorant: 804+ million hours watched
- Fortnite: 539+ million hours watched
- Call of Duty: 451+ million hours watched
In total, over 15.6 billion hours of gaming content was consumed on Twitch throughout 2024.
Twitch emphasized its dominance, noting that it now commands more than 60% of the global gaming live-streaming audience, with YouTube Gaming and Kick standing as its primary competition.
Finally, the report highlighted another rising trend: streams featuring VTubers continued to grow in popularity, drawing over 1.1 billion watch hours in 2024.
The Secret Behind GTA V’s Streaming Success
So, how is GTA V able to pull in more viewership than a game like League of Legends—a title with a vibrant competitive scene and even a hit TV adaptation in Arcane?
The biggest contributor is certainly GTA Online, the game’s multiplayer component. While GTA V is famous for its story mode, it also hosts a thriving online community where role-playing has become a massive draw.
Many of the most-watched GTA V streams feature players immersing themselves in character-driven scenarios—maybe a once-ordinary civilian who’s fallen into a life of crime, or a cop who doesn’t always play by the rules. Streamers often build elaborate backstories for these characters and let their lives unfold organically in front of their audiences.
Unlike a traditional single-player game, which eventually runs out of scripted content, role-playing in GTA Online offers endless entertainment. There’s always a fresh character idea to explore, and the interactions between role-players ensure that no two sessions are ever quite the same.
And even though GTA V is an older title, it’s still the latest entry in Rockstar’s legendary franchise. With the release of GTA VI getting closer, fans are doing anything they can to quench their thirst—including watching others experience GTA V.
Source: Twitch
