Features of the Video Game Industry: Streaming as an Economic Phenomenon

The video game industry is one of the fastest growing economic spheres due to progressive technologies. It comprises not only in game development and game selling but also in such forms as streaming. However, the industry has actively developed relatively recent (streaming services received recognition only in 2013-2014), it has not yet been fully researched. The growing attractiveness of the multimedia sphere for young people over the past ten years is obvious, and the study will help it more thoroughly weigh the possible risks of engaging in this activity. The work aims to study the factors of monetization of streaming activity and its importance in the video game industry. The goal of the work is implemented by a regression analysis based on data from the Twitch video streaming platform, which identifies factors affecting the success in the streaming activity, as well as an analysis of significant industry events. The study covers many areas of the industry, from content development to the stock market. The work revealed the presence of a time lag in the industry, which appears due to the slow reaction of the market to significant industry events, which allows obtaining short-term earnings on speculative strategies. Thus, the work is of practical interest for potential streamers, as it allows a rational assessment of the risks associated with streaming, as well as for analysts and traders' forecasts, as it reveals ways to improve forecasts by integrating information from video streaming platforms about target audience response to new products.