FlyQuest video critiquing costreaming sparks community backlash

North American esports organization FlyQuest is facing criticism following the release of a YouTube video addressing costreaming.

The video appeared to question the value of costreaming within the competitive ecosystem, suggesting that it may detract from official broadcasts and dilute brand partnerships.

However, the messaging quickly drew backlash from fans, content creators, and industry figures who viewed the video as misguided, if not fully dismissive of the real benefits of costreaming.

Backlash to FlyQuest’s video highlights the schism forming over esports monetization

Costreaming the practice of independent creators to broadcast and commentate official esports events. The practice which has slowly built traction over the past few years has become one of the largest ways that viewers watch esports, with fans of League of Legends in particular watching streams from the likes of Marc Robert "Caedrel" Lamont

While originally shunned, League of Legends developer Riot Games has embraced the model in its competitive circuit. The biggest streamers often attract large audiences for leagues like the LEC and LCS, sometimes rivaling or exceeding official broadcasts, while providing personalized commentary and community engagement.

The practice has grown so common that even organizations such as ESL FACEIT, who in the past were highly restrictive of recasts and costreaming, have recently launched new guidelines permitting it, albeit with plenty of rules around it.

In FlyQuest’s video, titled The Hidden Cost of Co-Streaming in Esports (alternatively titled Content Creators Are (Not) Saving Esports), the organization’s pans content creators for not always offering value, and criticising costreaming as a drain on potential revenue for esports. However, the video switches tone in its closing moments, promoting some FlyQuest’s own streamers.

Critics of FlyQuest’s video argued that co-streaming has helped grow the esports audience by making content more accessible and entertaining. Several prominent creators responded on social media, emphasizing that co-streaming complements, rather than replaces, official broadcasts.

Christian “IWillDominate” Rivera went so far as to call it “one of worst videos I've ever watched from an esports org.” Rivera, who has also costreamed LoL and other events

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in the esports industry over content ownership, monetization and audience distribution. It’s a unique issue. For instance, in sports, it would be crazy for broadcasters to allow other platforms to re-broadcast their content, as it would be considered piracy. In esports, where the content is released almost entirely for free, the lines are far more blurry.

For esports however, the tension between growth and monetization is still front and center. There are no easy answers, but for now, FlyQuest have struck a nerve that’s all too raw for many in the space.