Gaming for a better world? Kommunikationspraktiken auf Twitch im Kontext gesellschaftlicher Klimakrisendiskurse

The strategy video game Terra Nil allows players to restore a world that has been destroyed by humans. But can ‘climate games’ do justice to the complexity of the subject matter? Platforms such as Twitch, with over 2 million daily users, offer the potential for discussions about the climate crisis. Livestreams on Twitch create unique communication structures that have rarely been researched to date. The study aims to analyze the communication of a live stream of Terra Nil on Twitch regarding media specifics and discursive patterns. The methods used include computer-assisted content analysis. After introducing Twitch as a platform and the methodological approach the theme ‘climate crisis’ in the game and a specific stream and chat are addressed. In conclusion the media specifics of Twitch allow an interactive discourse on the climate crisis when initiated by a game and amplified by a specific streamer, though the platform can also fulfil the need for relaxation for users in opposition to a critical discourse.