Youtubers Life 3 Review (PC)

In an age where “content creators” are running amok, uploading copious amounts of reels to a plethora of online platforms as if their lives depend on it, finding solid ground, or an airtight support network, for that matter, is becoming increasingly difficult. For some of us, such a self-proclaimed mission to conquer the virtual world is meaningless—pointless, even. Yet, beneath all of the lavish benefits that come with a successful channel, there are vast difficulties and unspoken truths that we, as viewers, often fail to comprehend. But, YouTubers Life 3 doesn’t like to dwell on the consequences of a failed attempt to monopolize the streaming industry. If anything, it pushes a lot of the negative aspects of uploading to the back of the cache to frontline another, more powerful sensation: the act of achieving a goal, and then ascending to even greater heights to reach supernova.

YouTubers Life, as a series, hasn’t changed a great deal since its inception, with the third installment in the saga still laying bricks on the foundations of its predecessor’s legacy. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of technical improvements and QoL upgrades, though the premise still remains one and the same: start from the beginning as a fledgling streamer, and make gradual changes to your content in order to attract more followers and unlock better perks for both your cozy home studio and the material that you choose to upload on a regular basis.

The question that we need to unpack here is simple: How exactly does Stream Together differ from its previous incarnation? Is it more or less the same game, but with the inclusion of the aforementioned audiovisual overhauls, or is it something bigger, better, and far more complex than the original? Let’s talk about it.

Going Global

Of course, there is one major change here, and that’s the online functionalities that wheedle into the game’s real-time model. As the title implies, Stream Together is all about plugging into the online community—a place where avid content creators can upload, capture, and share their prime materials with others whilst also working on their own homely projects, like adding decorations to the studio, altering appearances to match the latest fashion trends, and casting a web over a team that can help generate influence and broaden the demographic. This is, in short, the same basic setup as YouTubers Life 2, I’ll admit. However, unlike the previous chapter, Stream Together makes the effort to disembark from the single-player mode and instead chooses to focus on the bigger picture—the world, as well as the content creators of a bigger, stronger, and more influential collective.

Stream Together still keeps ahold of the series’ usual trappings, with VODs still being the bread and butter of the streamer’s arsenal. Like before, players can splice together their own clips via the built-in editing tool, as well as embellish them with effects and other notable elements before uploading them to the online catalog. Moreover, users can also generate titles (even clickbait titles, disappointingly) and choose from one of many, many options to influence the content in real time. As far as all of that goes, Stream Together does indeed boast a lot of opportunities for our to branch out and tap into your own creative ideas. But again, does it do it better than YouTubers Life 2?

Re-Upload

To state the obvious, Stream Together is a lot more chaotic than its forefather’s single-player approach. Here, you don’t necessarily have the luxury of time to make gradual improvements to your studio. Well, you do, but with the pressure of having to outsmart your online adversaries and always having to think one step ahead to make the most out of your talents, there is an added level of complexity to the process here.

Luckily, the game does feature various timed events that cover a multitude of scenarios, which, thankfully, allow you the opportunity to sharpen your skills and make sustainable connections with other users. It’s still a lot to wrap your head around, but I personally found that, even with the competitive nature of the joint venture forever evolving, it was never difficult to set my own goals and expectations to achieve on the side. The streaming world constantly moved forward, but I, alone in my studio, would still feel comfortable creating something new for the fans. Granted, the idea of being at the apex of the platform would’ve been the cherry on top, but I can’t say that potting around in the lower tiers was a depressing experience. I guess, in ways, it just gave me the motivation to keep going.

Sub 4 Sub

The inclusion of a worldwide audience is an addition that should’ve made the cut a long, long time ago. It’s the fact that users can finally engage with others and swap their own stories that makes Stream Together that much more appealing than its predecessors. I’ll admit, I don’t see how it can go any further than this without losing its original charm, what with it having already squeezed all of the udders in its chosen bank. That said, the third chapter in itself is a testament to the series’ ability to keep old habits from becoming stale and, in some ways, yesterday’s news. The added benefit of a cleaner UI and more interactivity in the VOD-making process is merely the icing on the cake.

Verdict

YouTubers Life 3: Stream Together casts its net over the whole community in an attempt to instill a more inclusive atmosphere for both newcomers to the series and streaming veterans alike. The third installment, while not noticeably different from the second in the series, still touts the signature components that made the original game so compelling, with the VODs being as equally satisfying to create, and the customization suite as sizable and as addicting as ever. And while the actual process of finding a foothold on the ladder is a lot more complicated than it was before, the game does pull out all of the stops to ensure that you can make swift progress in your career, if not through timed events, then through a meaty catalog of ever-changing streaming experiences and studio cosmetics.

To paint it in black and white, Stream Together is a completely different ballgame than YouTubers Life 2. It’s still the same tame-able beast, for sure — but with even more flocks for you to impress. If, however, you don’t mind the occasional challenge or online feud, then you should find more than enough content here to get your hands dirty. It’s a cruel, cruel world, and it doesn’t exactly skip out on the consequences that escalate from the act of producing poor quality VODs. But then, so is the real world of streaming. That’s ten points for authenticity, UPLAY Online.