How is this even up for debate? 😂 Kick launched in late 2022 as a Twitch alternative with a clear creator-first pitch: higher payouts and looser restrictions. At a time when Twitch’s long-standing 50/50 subscription split and increasingly strict moderation were wearing on many streamers, the conversation around loyalty started shifting from brand attachment to long-term viability. By offering a 95/5 subscription split and faster payouts, Kick turned that shift into a real decision point. Creators suddenly had to balance a massive financial upside against reach, infrastructure, and brand safety. Some jumped ship immediately, others recognized the upside but stayed put, showing that today’s streaming landscape is driven as much by economics as it is by exposure.