Ninja Leaves Twitch, Floatplane Changes, and LTX Recap
The Shift in Streaming Landscapes
The most significant industry news this week is Ninja's departure from Twitch to join Microsoft's streaming platform, Mixer. This move is a major signal that Microsoft is making an aggressive play to compete in the live-streaming space.
• Financial Implications: Experts speculate that Ninja signed a massive, multi-million dollar contract. This likely includes a signing bonus and a minimum guarantee to offset the risk of leaving the dominant platform.
• Platform Strategy: The move also highlights the potential for Mixer to differentiate itself through unique interactive features, even if the platform is significantly smaller than Twitch.
• Community Sentiment: While some criticize the move as abandoning a 'home' platform, it is argued that creators should chase what makes business sense as their careers evolve.
Evolution of the Floatplane Platform
There are several major updates regarding the Floatplane video service, specifically for Linus Media Group (LMG) content:
• Pricing Adjustments: LMG’s monthly subscription for early access is increasing from $3.00 to $5.00. This is to ensure a sustainable model that doesn't undercut independent creators joining the platform.
• Grandfathering: For the next two days, current users can lock in the $3.00 rate before the increase goes into effect.
• Expansion: Creators like EposVox, Science Studio, and UFD Tech are now officially signed on to use the service, signaling a broader push for the platform.
Tech News and Industry Updates
"Artificial intelligence training requires data, but the oversight of that data is currently being forced into the spotlight by regulators."
• Voice Assistant Security: Following privacy concerns, Google and Apple have been forced to temporarily halt human review of their voice recordings (e.g., Google Assistant and Siri) after reports revealed contractors were reviewing intimate user data.
• Samsung Expectations: With the Samsung Unpacked event approaching, focus is shifting to the Galaxy Note 10, which may include a massive 6.8-inch variant and technical features like a time-of-flight sensor.
• Diablo Retro Gaming: The team highlights the ability to play Diablo 1 directly in a web browser via emulated shareware.