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Mark Zuckerberg expressed interest in streaming his gameplay of Civilization on Twitch, a platform owned by Amazon.
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images; Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images
- Mark Zuckerberg is an avid fan of the strategy game “Civilization.”
- “I think I should eventually do a Twitch stream where I play with someone,” he mentioned.
- Meta launched its own gaming platform, Facebook Gaming, in 2020, but it struggled to gain traction.
Zuckerberg’s Gaming Aspirations: A Potential Twitch Stream
Mark Zuckerberg has been contemplating the idea of launching a Twitch stream dedicated to his favorite strategy game, “Civilization.”
“When it comes to strategy games, my goal is to excel at Civilization,” stated the Meta CEO during an interview with media outlet Pubity. This conversation took place during the Meta Connect 2024 conference held from September 24-25.
Zuckerberg humorously recounted how his wife Priscilla recently checked his Steam account and was astonished by his gaming hours: “She said: ‘What? You’ve logged over a thousand hours on this?'” Steam serves as a popular digital distribution platform for PC gamers.
The billionaire further added, “At some point, I should definitely consider doing a Twitch stream where I compete against someone. I’m quite confident that I’m nearing grandmaster level. It would surprise me if anyone could defeat me.”
The ”Civilization” series developed by Firaxis Games has sold more than 50 million copies globally according to its publisher, 2K Games. Zuckerberg has previously shared anecdotes about his fondness for this game; notably during his commencement address at Harvard University in 2017 when he revealed that he received his college acceptance letter while engrossed in playing “Civilization.”
A Shift Towards Casual Engagements and Public Image Revamp
This recent comment from Zuckerberg aligns with efforts to reshape how he is perceived publicly—adopting a more relaxed demeanor and style. In the interview with Pubity, he sported jeans paired with a black T-shirt featuring the phrase “Zuck or nothing” written in Latin—a stark contrast from his traditional gray t-shirt uniform.
Zuckerberg’s mention of gaming could significantly benefit Firaxis Games as they ramp up marketing for their upcoming seventh installment of “Civilization,” set for release on February 11, 2025.
A Challenge Issued: Who Will Compete?
A prominent streamer known as Potato McWhiskey has already thrown down the gauntlet for Zuckerberg. In a video posted Wednesday on YouTube—where he boasts around 480k subscribers—he challenged him directly: “I challenge you to a one-on-one duel in Civilization.” The official “Civilization” YouTube account also chimed in saying “See you in the arena, Zuckerberg.”
The Broader Trend of Public Figures Engaging Through Gaming Platforms
This trend isn’t isolated; various public figures are leveraging platforms like Twitch (owned by Amazon) as tools for connecting with younger demographics. For instance, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently participated in streaming sessions focused on “World of Warcraft,” which appears part of broader outreach strategies aimed at engaging younger voters ahead of elections.
No Confirmed Date Yet for Streaming Appearance
Zuckerberg hasn’t announced any specific plans regarding when or if he’ll appear on Amazon’s Twitch service. However it’s interesting that Meta already operates its own video-game streaming service called Facebook Gaming which launched back in 2020 but failed to capture significant attention within competitive markets.
An insightful comment surfaced online stating: “Not even Mark Zuckerberg wants to stream on Facebook,” highlighting perceptions surrounding Facebook Gaming’s lackluster performance since its inception.
In October last year (2022), Meta discontinued standalone iOS and Android applications related specifically to Facebook Gaming although users can still access it through their main app interface.
As yet there hasn’t been any response from representatives associated with Mark Zuckerberg regarding inquiries sent outside standard business hours by Business Insider.
