Microsoft is shutting down its live streaming service, Mixer, and merges with Facebook Gaming. Mixer was created in hopes to rival the number one live streaming service, Twitch.
Mixer Partners, streamers, and community – today, we've got some very big news for you.
While we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer, we're officially partnering with @FacebookGaming and we're cordially inviting all of you to join.
📰 https://t.co/E1eMDvjYQb pic.twitter.com/554hHAXfaB
— Mixer (@WatchMixer) June 22, 2020
Microsoft never addressed the main reason for doing so and suddenly pulled the plug on their own streaming service, but many speculate that the low viewership and high-profile endorsements caused the collapse of the website. If you notice, not a lot of people even know about Mixer since Microsoft barely markets it. Sure, there may have been a huge spike in member count after Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek joined the platform but that does not guarantee consistent organic audiences.
The Future of Mixer
As seen from the tweet, Microsoft already agreed terms with Facebook to merge Mixer and Facebook Gaming together. Mixer live streamers will also get the benefits from FB Gaming like the Level Up program. The transfer will take effect on July 22, 2020.
The Negative Response
Mixer personalities did not take this Microsoft decision lightly. From the tweet replies, nobody is happy with the collaboration. Some of the streamers claim that Microsoft have never even addressed pending issues surrounding the platform. Here are some of the negative feedback:
So instead of addressing all the claims going on. You decide this was the announcement you wanted to push out 🤦🏻♀️
— PlXlE 🏳️🌈🤎🖤 #BLM (@ItsPixietweet) June 22, 2020
So instead of working to fix the issues, you pulled the plug on the years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears we've put in as content creators. This consolation prize feels like a huge slap in the face.
— Enola Leone | 🌈 #PrideAlways (@thatenolaleone) June 22, 2020
They played us like a damn fiddle! pic.twitter.com/l6DuSMFyAD
— Pimp Master Broda (@PimpMasterYoda1) June 22, 2020
Of course, let’s not forget about the ongoing Mixer audience meme:
All 3 users will be sad
— DANNYonPC (@DANNYonPC) June 22, 2020
@Slasher They finnaly gonna have more than 50 overall viewers pic.twitter.com/n7vrOXCsPW
— Bor0 (@RazBor0) June 22, 2020
A Relief for Twitch
Obviously, Twitch is still going strong as the number one live streaming service. Microsoft has failed to pull out all the stops in hopes of a fierce battle against the Amazon-owned website. But, as the world continues, Twitch is still a strong contender over other existing live stream services such as YouTube, Facebook Gaming and DLive.
We will not know for sure what the existing Mixer live streamers will do next. For certain, there will be a huge divide among the community whether joining FB Gaming or returning to Twitch is a good idea.
