Streamers are the next generation of global celebrities. The trend began back in 2007 with Justin.tv, a personal project by a dedicated gamer. His goal was to create a live streaming platform that would enable him to use a live video link to bring his friends into the fold. In other words, they would be able to watch his gaming sessions remotely.

The idea proved to be a hit. By 2014, Amazon had taken notice. It bought out Justin.tv, which had since been rebranded as Twitch.tv. Soon after, both Microsoft and YouTube looked to join in on the game-streaming zeitgeist. Microsoft launched a short-lived Mixer project—but YouTube has stood the test of time.

Along with Twitch, YouTube is the world-used live streaming platform. At the moment, both are experiencing unprecedented growth. That’s because new streamers are emerging, offering content beyond gaming. This has helped bring new users onto the platform—especially those who have no interest or knowledge of traditional video games. While many know names like Shroud and Ninja, a few of the world’s most popular streamers, there are constantly new streams to explore.

Let’s dive into some of the best up-and-coming streamers who have started to build a following over the last year.

Lex Veldhuis, YouTube

Lex Veldhuis is a poker pro who has over two decades of experience with the game. This has helped catapult his fame over the last year, as poker has become a popular topic for the platforms. Both have seen a huge uptick in the number of pro players—and Veldhuis is one of the most popular. 

He recently made the decision to switch from Twitch to YouTube, as he’s better able to interact with his followers there. He’s also able to cover more content, like the European Poker Tour (EPT) events. Since making the switch, he has racked up close to 130,000 subscribers.

Ilyas Elmaliki, YouTube

This gamer has risen to the top in a relatively short amount of time thanks to the number of hours he puts in. Ilyas Elmaliki had a stunning 258 hours of airtime this year as of March. This means that he’s provided tons of content for subscribers—and this has made him a popular choice for those looking for new personalities to follow. 

Part of his appeal was his coverage of the FIFA World Cup, which he commented on while playing his favorite game: FIFA 2023. Unlike others on this list, Elmaliki isn’t only a gamer. Like so many other stars, including IShowSpeed, he also provides live content that’s designed to bring followers together and entertain the masses.

Ibai, Twitch

With over 13 million followers on Twitch, Ibai isn’t an up-and-coming streamer. Instead, he’s one of the hallmarks of Twitch’s success. Still, it’s worth pointing out what makes this streamer so successful. After all, his exploits were enough to see him invited to the farewell dinner that Lionel Messi threw when he was leaving Barcelona to join PSG back in 2021. 

So, what makes Ibai worth following—and how does he continue to build his following after staying in the industry for so long? After all, it’s often hard for streamers to accrue more subs after they’ve had their ‘hey day’. For ibai, the secret ingredient seems to be variation. He flipped his early success gaming into a broader social [personality. Today, his stream includes gaming sessions along with other channels that cover interviews, including with names like Bad Bunny and Ed Sheeran.

Diacrossery, Twitch

This gamer is a self-proclaimed ‘shy girl’—though you may not notice this based on her streams. As a gamer, she sticks to titles like Monster Hunter and Genshin Impact. Both are relatively casual games compared to hits like Counter-Strike and League of Legends, which allows her to engage with her followers. 

Diacrossery is a relatively small name, having just accrued over 1,000 followers on Twitch. However, her rise has been quite short and her subscribers are highly engaged. This is one of the best ways to gauge the success of a new streamer: whether their fans are becoming hardcore followers.