Hitbox Entertainment

Hitbox Entertainment GmbH operated as a video game live-streaming platform, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Twitch. Founded in October 2013 by Martin Klimscha and René Recht-Appel, the Vienna-based company aimed to carve out a niche in the burgeoning esports and game streaming market. Klimscha, serving as CEO, articulated a vision to build a superior live streaming platform by focusing on technological advantages, such as reducing latency for a more interactive experience between streamers and their audience. The platform's technology was a key differentiator, initially leveraging an HTML5-based chat to enhance community interaction and later moving to a full HTML video player over Flash.

The company's primary service allowed users to broadcast themselves playing video games in real-time, serving both casual players and high-profile tournament organizers. By late 2016, the platform had attracted approximately 6 million monthly active users. Hitbox's business model focused on monetization through a partnership program that was notably more accessible than its main competitor's. It enabled streamers to earn revenue through advertisements and channel subscriptions without a minimum viewer requirement, a strategic move to attract up-and-coming content creators. This approach was designed to foster a diverse and rewarding environment for broadcasters of all sizes. The company secured a significant milestone in November 2015, raising $4 million in a funding round from investors including Wargaming and North Base Media.

In January 2017, Hitbox was acquired by its US-based rival, Azubu, for an undisclosed amount, reported to be in the tens of millions of dollars. This merger was intended to create a stronger global competitor to Twitch, combining Hitbox's strength in European markets with Azubu's presence in South America and Asia. Following the acquisition, both Hitbox and Azubu were shut down and rebranded as Smashcast on May 5, 2017. The new entity, managed by a combined team, aimed to leverage Hitbox's technology and Azubu's market reach, introducing features like 4K streaming capabilities and a new viewer engagement tool called the "Hype-O-Meter". Despite these efforts, Smashcast eventually ceased operations around 2020.

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