Amazon acquired the live-streaming platform Twitch in 2014. The deal was announced on August 25, 2014, and the acquisition formally closed on September 25 for approximately $970 million in cash.
Twitch began as a spin-off of Justin.tv in 2011, focusing primarily on live video-game broadcasts. Its rapidly growing audience made it attractive to major technology companies, and Amazon’s purchase strengthened the company’s position in gaming, digital video, and online communities.
A common mix-up is confusing the announcement date with the closing date: both events occurred in 2014. Twitch also remained a distinct service after the acquisition, rather than being renamed Amazon Streaming or folded into Prime Video. Amazon later connected Twitch to its ecosystem through services such as Twitch Prime, now known as Prime Gaming.