Report: YouTube Purchasing Game-Streaming Network Twitch for $1 Billion

Image: Mashable composite. iStock, johavel

YouTube could be purchasing Twitch, the largest video game live-streaming network, for $1 billion, according to a report released by Variety Sunday evening.

According to Variety, the $1 billion deal will be an all-cash transaction, and will be announced shortly.

The Wall Street Journal is confirming the deal, but said the talks are in early stages, with a firm amount not yet being disclosed. WSJ lists two unnamed people as its sources.

Twitch, originally a subsidiary of, spun off in 2011 to form its own gaming network. It has since drawn in huge traffic, getting an average of 45 million unique monthly viewers with a million gamers broadcasting their own content.

Twitch has become fully integrated with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 gaming consoles, allowing players to both stream and watch content from their televisions.

YouTube has dabbled in the livestreaming arena for games, but hasn't had nearly the success of Twitch.

"We don't comment on rumors," a Twitch spokesperson told Mashable. YouTube's spokesperson echoed a similar statement.


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