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Hey all,

Wondering what the hive mind thinks the effect of GW's upcoming streaming service will have on the fan made YouTube Battle Reps?

I enjoy several of the big YouTube battle rep channels and so I cannot help but feel a little bit of concern for them. It is clear that several of these studios have sunk in significant capital in order to produce really professional hobby content. It also seems their relationship to GW is fairly one-sided: they spend many thousands of dollars on GW products, and GW maybe sends them a codex in advance or chats with them about some rules ideas and says, "thanks for the feedback ". In many ways, these channels are quite sensitive to any of the changes in Warhammer IP that GW may decide upon.

With the teasing of the GW streaming app, it seems to me that GW is starting to recognise the revenue stream that battle-reps/hobby channels represent. Some of the big Warhammer channels pull sizeable numbers of views, and they're doing so on the back of an IP that is controlled by others.

If GW were to ramp up their own "competitive meta" battle reports, do you think they would bring in some of the big "Warhammer influencer" channels floating around on YouTube in a more professional capacity? Or is GW more likely to sit quietly and take notes on what the others are doing, before bringing it all in house and releasing their own product as a direct competitor? How much of a bone will they toss to thank all the fans who have created, developed and perfected this model (professional, competitive esports Warhammer matches)?

Well, who knows?

We don’t know what Warhammer+ is going to be yet, or what it’s going to offer.

Well, who knows?

We don’t know what Warhammer+ is going to be yet, or what it’s going to offer.

Or of it's even going to actually launch ...

Personally, I don't think batrep or hobby/painting channels have to worry, but I do wonder about the lore channels.

I'm quite certain it will have no impact on them unless GW decides to bring some of them onto the service.

 Daedalus81 wrote:
I'm quite certain it will have no impact on them unless GW decides to bring some of them onto the service.

Yup, agreed. GW isn't stupid. lore channels, discussion, painting, and battle reports all support their overall business hobby and the ones that create animated/story-driven video content, like a miniature show, if it's good, will just get picked up by GW, the rest will continue.

I've watched some of GW's own battle reports when they were still doing them on their Twitch stream from Warhammer World. Honestly, they weren't all that great compared to some of the Youtube channels out there. I don't think that most battle report channels have much if anything to worry about.

And speaking personally, I'm not a huge fan of "competitive meta" battle reports anyways, I quickly get overwhelmed by all the tactical discussion and the focus on the dice rolling(which happens in some of the 'casual' channels too - looking at you, Miniwargaming).

Even if GW did start doing more battle reports as part of Warhammer+, that wouldn't necessarily translate into subscribers to the service. Why pay for something when you can watch it on Youtube for free?

I really don't see how. GW batreps have been pretty bad when they've done them on their Twitch channel. The big YT channels tend to be successful mainly thanks to their personalities and I don't think GW will be able to easily replicate that.

Official GW painting tutorials were fine but other YT channels have the option to use non-GW models and products, which gives them wider appeal.

The key for me is that all the stuff in the OP is currently available for free, probably in more entertaining fashion than GW could provide. I don't see why I'd pay for inferior content.

I'm with Grey and Slip on this one, why pay for something thats already free (or has voluntary patron schemes etc)

I suspect GW will tap existing YT channels with the promise of "exposure" and bus fare home, and at the risk of displeasing daddy dubs a fair few will take up the offer

But as it stands it'll have to offer far more than battle reports and paint guides to pull in consistent subs