Small streamers protest Blizzard's 'Support a Streamer' Twitch event

pcgamer.com:

To promote the launch of the second Overwatch 2 beta, Blizzard has partnered with select Twitch streamers to give away an exclusive Brigitte skin. The list of over 150 streamers participating in the Support a Streamer event(opens in new tab) includes some of the biggest channels on Twitch, such as xQc, Asmongold, A_Seagull, and T-Pain. While there are also smaller streamers on the list, the inclusion of some of the platform's most successful entertainers has left some of those who didn't make the cut feeling snubbed. To them, the 'Support a Streamer' event favors streamers who don't need the support.

To get the Medic Brigitte skin, you have to donate three total subscriptions to any of the Twitch channels on the list while they're actively streaming in the Overwatch category. Once you do, Twitch will give you a code and you can redeem it for the skin on Battle.net. The event will last for the entirety of the Overwatch 2 beta and then some, from June 29 to July 20.

Partnered Twitch streamers receive 50% of $4.99 subscriptions, and high-profile streamers like Asmongold and xQc could receive more depending on their individual deals with Twitch. Along with the biggest Overwatch streamers like A_Seagull, ml7, Emongg, and Kephrii, the event will put more money in the pockets of wiki site Fextralife and controversial streamers like Dafran, Asmongold, xQc(opens in new tab).

Support a Streamer and other events like it(opens in new tab) are one opportunity for major publishers to spotlight smaller streamers and directly boost their income. Blizzard is essentially handing out free money, which for obvious reasons makes the inclusion of mega-successful channels frustrating for uninvited streamers who are still trying to build an