Twitch leaving korea

In a surprising move, Amazon-owned Twitch has announced its decision to cease operations in South Korea. The platform will officially shut down on February 27, 2024, citing prohibitively high network fees as the primary reason behind this decision.

This announcement has sent shockwaves through the South Korean gaming community, as Twitch is home to a thriving esports scene and a passionate fanbase. The platform has played a significant role in showcasing the country’s gaming talent to the world and fostering a sense of community among gamers.

Twitch’s exit from South Korea marks a major setback for the country’s gaming landscape. However, it also presents an opportunity for other streaming platforms to step up and fill the void. Competition is likely to intensify, leading to more innovative features and a wider range of content for Korean gamers.

While the decision to leave South Korea is undoubtedly disappointing, Twitch’s focus on profitability is understandable. The company has been operating at a loss in the country due to the high network fees charged by Korean internet service providers.

In recent years, South Korea has implemented a “sending-party-pays” model for internet data transmission, which has placed a significant burden on content providers like Twitch. This model has made it more expensive for Twitch to deliver high-quality streams to Korean viewers, ultimately leading to financial losses.

Despite the challenges, Twitch remains the leading streaming platform worldwide, with a strong presence in many other countries. The company’s decision to leave South Korea will undoubtedly cause some disruption, but it also presents an opportunity for innovation and growth in the Korean gaming and streaming ecosystem.