When Is the Best Time to Stream on Steam?

I understand why developers want to know the best time to stream on Steam. Nobody wants to prepare a broadcast only to discover that hardly anybody is watching.

The problem is that I don't think there's one perfect hour for every game. Steam has a worldwide audience, and people interested in different games can have very different habits.

Here's how I'd approach it.

Start with Steam's own activity

Steam publishes statistics showing how many people are online and how many are playing games. You can see them on Steam's official charts.

That's a useful starting point because you can see overall daily patterns. But I'd be cautious about assuming the busiest hour is automatically the best hour for your particular game.

More people online might mean more potential viewers. It might also mean more competition for attention. What matters is when the people interested in your game are browsing.

Steam Next Fest

If you're participating in Steam Next Fest, broadcasting is definitely something I'd investigate. The event is built around discovery and demos of upcoming games, and Valve provides livestream opportunities for participating developers.

I'd prepare everything well before the event, test the broadcast, and make sure the gameplay shows the game in a flattering but honest way.

I'd also check the rules and timing for that particular Next Fest. Steam events aren't all identical.

Game launches and major updates

These are two other occasions where I'd want a good gameplay broadcast available.

On launch day, people are visiting your store page to work out whether your game is for them. A broadcast gives them another way to look at the actual gameplay.

Major updates create a similar opportunity. If you've spent months adding new features, why not show them directly on the Steam page?

Should you stream 24/7?

If you broadcast for two hours, you're available to people browsing during those two hours. If you keep a gameplay stream running continuously, it's available to people in other time zones as well.

That doesn't mean Steam automatically promotes a stream just because it's active. It means your gameplay isn't restricted to your own working hours.

I think that matters for smaller developers without a dedicated marketing team.

How I'd test timing

I would try a few different approaches instead of guessing.

• Try short broadcasts when your audience is likely to be awake and browsing.
• Try a longer continuous broadcast during a meaningful promotion.
• Compare viewership, store traffic, wishlists and sales.
• Take notes on discounts, outside advertising and festivals happening during each test.

A broadcast won't tell you everything about where a sale came from, but those comparisons will help you make better decisions.

Removing the scheduling headache

I built BroadcastLoop so you can upload a video, connect Steam and let our servers take care of continuous delivery.

You can stop the stream when you want, and prepaid time is only deducted while you're broadcasting. That makes it practical to try different durations without leaving OBS running at home.

If you're planning your first stream, read my Steam setup tutorial. You can also try BroadcastLoop for 24 hours without adding a payment method.

My advice is simple: don't hunt for one magical hour. Test your own audience and use Steam's promotional events properly.