Looks like Facebook Gaming is about to get a huge influx of streamers, thanks to Microsoft's move to shut down Mixer. The streaming service will cease on 22 July 2020, and all existing Mixer partners and streamers will be transitioned to Facebook Gaming instead,
In an interview with The Verge, Microsoft's head of gaming Phil Spencer cited lack of competitive growth as the reason for this move.
“We started pretty far behind, in terms of where Mixer’s monthly active viewers were compared to some of the big players out there. I think the Mixer community is really going to benefit from the broad audience that Facebook has through their properties, and the abilities to reach gamers in a very seamless way through the social platform Facebook has.”
- Phil Spencer, Microsoft's Head of Gaming
After its shutdown next month, Mixer will automatically redirect viewers and streamers to the Facebook Gaming platform instead. Existing Mixer partners will be converted to Facebook Gaming Partners, while streamers using Mixer's monetisation program will be granted Level Up status, which provides similar monetisation features. As for viewers, those with outstanding Ember balances and channel or Mixer Pro subscriptions will be compensated with Xbox gift card credit instead.
And to answer the burning question at the forefront of your mind: Yes. Ninja, Shroud and all other top Mixer partners will be released from their contracts and set free back into the wild.
Will they go with the flow and join Facebook Gaming, or leap back into the familiar (and probably welcoming) arms of Twitch? According to their latest tweets, they have yet to decide - but we are hoping for the latter, because who doesn't like a good redemption arc?
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