Most streamers lose chat in the first 8 minutes because they pick a game that looks good on a thumbnail and plays like a single-player movie.

Chat needs three things or they tab out:

• A decision they can yell about in under 5 seconds

• A fail state that's funny on camera

• A reason to stay for one more round

If your VOD retention dies at minute 6, it's not your overlay. It's the game.

That's the bar I built against.