Microsoft Shuts Its Game Streaming Service Mixer

Due to a lack of success, Microsoft announces the closure of its game streaming platform mixer. The gates close on July 22nd. As of now, the Xbox group wants to cooperate with Facebook Gaming and focus on the cloud gaming service xCloud.

Since the takeover of Beam and the renaming into Mixer, Microsoft’s streaming service has not been able to position itself as a serious competitor against Twitch and YouTube Gaming. The Redmond company tried to breathe new life into the platform with the multi-million dollar takeovers of well-known streamers such as Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek – without success. Microsoft is now pulling the ripcord and closing Mixer on July 22, 2020. At the same time, the company is announcing a partnership with Facebook Gaming, but here too the success is uncertain.

For Microsoft, Facebook is currently the only option when it comes to making its own cloud gaming service xCloud streamers and viewers palatable in the future and integrating Xbox One and Xbox Series X into a streaming environment. As an Amazon subsidiary, Twitch should already be pursuing plans to promote the well-known mail-order company’s expected game streaming service, while YouTube Gaming will be connected to suitable functions from Google Stadia in the near future. However, Twitch is and remains the first choice for players when it comes to the live streaming of games.

Market share of mixer and Facebook gaming comparatively small

According to Streamlabs, Mixer’s market share in the first quarter of 2020 was only two percent of the hours that users spent playing streams. In addition, Facebook with 11 percent and YouTube Gaming with 22 percent are beaten by the top dog Twitch with a share of 65 percent. It remains to be seen how Facebook Gaming will develop in cooperation with Microsoft and xCloud. It will soon be offered to all former Mixer streamers and members to move to the streaming platform of the social network.

The two gamers Ninja and Shroud have not yet commented on their plans and are likely to keep the option open to return to their old home on Twitch. Rumor has it that the two streamers have been offered a high-value contract from Facebook to join the game streaming platform. There is even talk of a doubling of their previous fee. Unofficial reports indicate that Tyler Blevins received between $ 20 and $ 30 million and Michael Grzesiek about $ 10 million to tie up to a blender.