Popular streamer TimTheTatMan has sparked a viral debate over the future of gaming broadcasts, saying Twitch’s Just Chatting category far outpaces people playing games.
Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed and Asmongold are some of the biggest streamers on the internet, branching out from their status as content creators to enter the mainstream media.
For instance, Kai Cenat regularly rubs shoulders with major celebrities like Drake, LeBron James, Kevin Hart and more, while IShowSpeed, who streams on YouTube, gets international recognition thanks to his viral tours abroad.
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The majority of their streams aren’t spent in front of the computer playing games (minus Asmongold, who’s known for his political commentary streamed from home). Instead, they’re out hosting award shows and taking up physical challenges against high-profile athletes.
It’s influencers like these that have fellow broadcaster TimTheTatMan convinced that the future of live streaming isn’t in gaming — it’s in IRL.
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Twitch: Kai CenatKai Cenat is one of the most popular streamers on the net, regularly hanging out with celebrities like Kevin Hart and even hosting award shows.
TimTheTatMan says gaming on Twitch is dead
Tim spoke about this growing trend during a broadcast in June 2025 after noticing that the majority of viewership on Twitch was in the site’s ‘Just Chatting’ category.
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“There were 500,000 watching Just Chatting,” he said. “And the closest video game to that was League of Legends at 100K, and Counter-Strike at 85K. I think it’s just gaming in general right now, because all the views seem to be when you go into Just Chatting and talk about drama.
“You could argue that the biggest streamers out there don’t even game that much,” he continued. “This guy Kai Cenat just hung out with LeBron. You know what I’m saying? …IRL is king now. That’s the reality.”
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TimTheTatman talks about the current state of gaming for Streamers
“the biggest Streamers don’t even game anymore, IRL is king now thats the reality” pic.twitter.com/xmWJhKEeDa
— yoxic (@yoxics) June 25, 2025
Responses to Tim’s theory are largely mixed. Some viewers agree that Kai’s motion is largely due to his interactions with celebrities and broadcasts outside the home, while others say that gaming content is in a lull until a massive title like GTA 6 drops.
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“IRL is the ultimate reality show,” one viewer said on X.
“Just not any game that’s poppin’ right now,” another argued. “Once someone drops something worth playing / watching, it’s back to normal. Nobody doing irl content when a game like GTA 6 comes out. Just not any great games right now.”
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Just not any game that’s poppin right now. Once someone drops something worth playing/watching it’s back to normal. Nobody doing irl content when a game like gta6 comes out. Just not any great games right now.
— DeaTHhly (@DeaTHhlyy) June 25, 2025
“We desperately need better multiplayer games,” another said.
While the Just Chatting category might reign supreme, a majority of Twitch’s most-subscribed streamers are gaming-focused… but content creators like TimTheTatMan aren’t convinced this will be the case for much longer.
And we can’t forget that Kai Cenat’s gaming marathons have been some of the most viral broadcasts on the net, something he’s returning to with IShowSpeed for a Mario Bros. stream.
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