I don’t play much, but watching streamers play narrative games ( Alan Wake 2 , Baldur’s Gate 3 ) has replaced traditional Let’s Plays. It’s interactive storytelling with live commentary—surprisingly engaging. Downside: chat culture can be toxic, and “subathons” feel like digital panhandling.

The appeal of UGC is psychological. Audiences trust peer reviews over celebrity endorsements. They crave "relatable" content over high-gloss perfection. This has forced traditional media giants to adapt. CNN launched TikTok accounts; the NFL streams games on Twitch; The New York Times creates Instagram stories.