YouTube Gaming surges to a record 8.8 billion hours in 2025 as sponsored streams and esports drive growth
In 2025, around 25% of hours watched on live-streaming gaming platforms are spent on YouTube Gaming channels
FRISCO, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2026 / Stream Hatchet, the leading provider of data analytics for the live streaming and gaming ecosystem and wholly-owned subsidiary of GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME), (“GameSquare”, or the “Company”), has released its 2025 YouTube Gaming Trends Report, providing a comprehensive analysis of one of the platform’s most significant growth years to date.
According to the report, YouTube Gaming reached a record 8.8 billion hours watched in 2025, representing a 12% year-over-year increase and accounting for approximately 25% of hours watched across live-streaming gaming platforms.
The report offers a detailed look at the platform’s outstanding year. It covers everything from market share growth and regional strongholds to the rise of short-form content and the comeback of sponsored streams. Whether you are forming creator partnerships, evaluating regional opportunities, or checking the impact of esports, this report provides the insights needed to succeed in 2026.
Access to the report is available at: https://streamhatchet.com/reports/2025-youtube-gaming-live-streaming-trends/
“The continued acceleration of YouTube Gaming underscores a fundamental shift in how global audiences consume content and how brands engage with next-generation fans,” said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare. “With 8.8 billion hours watched in 2025 and a meaningful resurgence in sponsored streams, we are seeing a clear validation of creator-led, digital-native media. As a parent company to Stream Hatchet, these insights not only inform our own strategy across esports, media, and brand partnerships, but also reinforce GameSquare’s position at the center of the evolving creator ecosystem.”
Key Insights from Stream Hatchet’s 2025 YouTube Gaming Trends Report:
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Ad-Friendly Growth: Sponsored streams made a strong comeback, hitting 4.5 million hours watched in Q4 2025.
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Gen Z Core: Over 50% of the audience for top channels is in their 20s.
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Esports Powerhouse: League of Legends and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang both surpassed 400 million hours watched, with Worlds 2025 peaking at 3.8 million concurrent viewers.
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The Shorts Effect: Gaming-related Shorts grew for three consecutive quarters, peaking in August 2025.
For more information on Stream Hatchet and insight into esports, creator and streaming markets, please visit their website at www.streamhatchet.com.
About GameSquare Holdings, Inc.
GameSquare (NASDAQ: GAME) is a cutting-edge media, entertainment, and technology company transforming how brands and publishers connect with Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennial audiences. With a platform that spans award-winning creative services, advanced analytics, and FaZe Esports, one of the most iconic gaming organizations, we operate one of the largest gaming media networks in North America. As a digital-native business, GameSquare provides brands with unparalleled access to world-class creators and talent, delivering authentic connections across gaming, esports, and youth culture. Complementing our operating strategy, GameSquare has developed an innovative treasury management program designed to generate yield and enhance capital efficiency, reinforcing our commitment to building a dynamic, high-performing media company at the intersection of culture, technology, and next-generation financial innovation.
To learn more, visit www.gamesquare.com.
About Stream Hatchet
Stream Hatchet delivers real-time, actionable insights into the gaming and live-streaming ecosystem across 16 platforms. From performance benchmarking to campaign ROI and influencer intelligence, Stream Hatchet empowers game publishers, brands, agencies, and tournament organizers with the industry’s most granular data and reporting tools.
For more information visit www.streamhatchet.com.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the Company’s future performance, revenue, growth and profitability; and the performance of the live streaming market . These forward-looking statements are provided only to provide information currently available to us and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, assurance or definitive statement of fact or probability. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions which include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to grow their business and being able to execute on their business plans, the Company being able to complete and successfully integrate acquisitions, the Company being able to recognize and capitalize on opportunities and the Company continuing to attract qualified personnel to support its development requirements. These assumptions, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to achieve its objectives, the Company successfully executing its growth strategy, the ability of the Company to obtain future financings or complete offerings on acceptable terms, failure to leverage the Company’s portfolio across entertainment and media platforms, dependence on the Company’s key personnel and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. These risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company which are discussed in the Company’s most recent MD&A. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. GameSquare assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
Investor Relations
Andrew Berger
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: ir@gamesquare.com
Media Relations
Chelsey Northern / The Untold
Phone: (254) 855-4028
Email: pr@gamesquare.com
SOURCE: GameSquare Holdings, Inc.
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