Boasting over 45 million players and the Twitch record for most live viewers on a stream, third-person shooter Fortnite Battle Royale has taken the gaming world by storm. But given that it uses a free-to-play model, how is it avoiding the controversy that often surrounds in-game microtransactions?

Twitch has established itself as the leading player in live gaming coverage, but it’s not the only thing drawing people back on a daily basis. As the platform’s content has diversified beyond esports, the interactions between streamers and viewers have made into a hub for community and discussion.

Once perceived as an anti-social pursuit, gaming now offers people a way to connect with peers around the world through streaming, forums, and social media. How do these diverse communities go beyond gameplay to support individuals in their search for escapism and creative expression?

The sociability of online gaming, and increasing dominance of video game streaming, has seen gamer culture cross over to the mainstream. In-game clipping service Medal is looking to harness the social power of this lucrative consumer group, to become the next big name in social sharing.