The entrance to TwitchCon at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 8, 2022.

In photos: TwitchCon returns to the San Diego Convention Center

By Beth Accomando / Arts & Culture Reporter, Elma González Lima Brandão / KPBS Digital Editor, Brenden Tuccinardi / Web Producer, Alexander Nguyen / Multimedia Producer, North County, Aria Mallorca / KPBS Student Assistant

Published October 7, 2022 at 5:41 PM PDT

Updated October 10, 2022 at 9:26 AM PDT

This story was published more than 2 years ago.

In a nutshell, TwitchCon is a convention where livestreamers — or streamers as they’re known on the platform — meet their community. But it’s also a tech convention and a business conference.

Twitch, owned by Amazon, started out as a livestreaming platform for gamers but, over the years, has transformed into a platform for all sorts of streaming content. As a platform, Twitch averages about 2.5 million viewers at any one point and 31 million average daily website visits.

And that brings us to the San Diego Convention Center, where Twitch will be hosting the three-day event. It's part pop-culture, part tech convention and part business conference.

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TwitchCon is sold out but KPBS will be there all three days of the con. Follow along for photo updates on all things Twitch.

Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout TwitchCon 2022.

Friday, Oct. 7
Saturday, Oct. 8
Sunday, Oct. 9

Friday, Oct. 7

The Prime Video booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

Twitch streamer Dana, who goes by the handle <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/sugarcoatedkiss" target="_blank" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000179-8a1f-d704-a9f9-fa5f6dab0000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.content.publishDate":1665187823140,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-7516-d611-af7f-f77fec080000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1665187823140,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-7516-d611-af7f-f77fec080000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.directory.paths":[],"link":{"attributes":[],"linkText":"Sugarcoatedkiss","target":"NEW","url":"https://www.twitch.tv/sugarcoatedkiss","theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"cms.directory.paths":[],"_id":"00000183-b4ed-d97e-a5cb-f5efa60d0001","_type":"ff658216-e70f-39d0-b660-bdfe57a5599a"},"theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"_id":"00000183-b4ed-d97e-a5cb-f5efa6060000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Sugarcoatedkiss</a>, wears cosplay at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022. — Twitch streamer Dana, who goes by the handle Sugarcoatedkiss, wears Hatsune Miku cosplay at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

A "foam pit battle" at the Legion booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022. — A "foam pit battle" at the Legion by Lenovo booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

TwitchCon attendees rest in a seating area. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

The Audio Technica booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

A TwitchCon attendee cosplays as a plague doctor. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

The Raid booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022. — A sound proof box for gaming at the Raid booth at TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

Freebies attendees can receive when entering TwitchCon 2022. San Diego Convention Center. Oct. 7, 2022.

Saturday, Oct. 8

A content creator telling his followers to smash the subscribe button in front of a TwitchCon display, Oct. 8, 2022.

Two TwitchCon attendees pose in front of a TwitchCon display at the entrance to the convention on Oct. 8, 2022.

Spectators watch the "Lost Ark: Kabul-Saydon Legions Raid" at TwitchCon, Oct. 8, 2022.

Streamers can personalize their emotes — emoticons specific to Twitch that viewers and streamers can use to express their feelings on chat — at the Emotifier at TwitchCon, Oct. 8, 2022.

Streamers making their emotes at the Emotifier at TwitchCon while a staff member looks on, Oct. 8, 2022.

A TwitchCon attendee trying glasses designed to reduce eyestrain from staring at computer screens too long, Oct. 8, 2022.

A man walking by a TwitchCon art display inside the San Diego Convention Center, Oct. 8, 2022.

Attendees walking into the Twitch Rivals arena — an esports tournament inside TwitchCon at the San Diego Convention Center, Oct. 8, 2022.

Twenty teams of three compete in a Twitch Rivals competition playing the video game "Apex Legends" on Oct. 8, 2022.

Drag performers (from left to right) DEERE, Londyn Bradshaw, Marisol Lords and Biqtch Puddin' speak at a panel called "Drag Cyber Space" on Oct. 8, 2022. The panel discussion focused on the pandemic forcing drag performers to make the transition to Twitch so that they could continue to live their passion and find a new way to engage with audiences and their community.

A convention attendee plays a video game at the TwitchCon LAN on Oct. 8, 2022. — A convention attendee plays a video game at the TwitchCon LAN at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 8, 2022.

TwitchCon attendees play video games at the TwitchCon LAN at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 8, 2022.

TwitchCon attendees had the chance to play the unreleased game "Divine Knockout" or DKO at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 8, 2022.

A custom-built Demon Slayer themed PC on display at TwitchCon at the San Diego Convention Center on Oct. 8, 2022.

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Sunday, Oct. 9

The stream must go on, and TwitchCon makes sure to offer plenty of spaces for streamers to continue producing content — including these soundproof booths, Oct. 9, 2022.

Two attendees play a dance videogame at TwitchCon, Oct. 9, 2022.

Evan Felch, from the San Francisco Bay Area, cosplays as Steve from Minecraft, Oct. 9, 2022.

Take note, Comic-Con! The convention center halls have plenty of comfortable seating options for TwitchCon attendees, Oct. 9, 2022.

Martin Corona, pro makeup artist (and Final Fantasy gamer) at the NYX booth, applies makeup on Nicole Clarke, TwitchCon attendee, Oct. 9, 2022.

The Amazon Prime booth at TwitchCon promotes a new show called The Peripheral with an interactive VR experience, Oct. 9, 2022

A gamer tries out Logitech's new simulation driving chair at TwitchCon, Oct. 9, 2022.<br/><br/> — A gamer tries out Logitech's new simulation driving chair at TwitchCon, Oct. 9, 2022.

Fans packed the Twitch Rivals Arena to watch the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite, Oct. 9, 2022.

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Fans packed the Twitch Rivals Arena to watch the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite, Oct. 9, 2022.

Elma González Lima Brandão

Twenty teams compete for a $200,000 prize at the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite, Oct. 9, 2022.

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Twenty teams compete for a $200,000 prize at the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite, Oct. 9, 2022.

Elma González Lima Brandão

Fans await the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite at the Twitch Rivals Arena, Oct. 9, 2022.

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Fans await the Zero Build Finale, ft. Fortnite at the Twitch Rivals Arena, Oct. 9, 2022.

Elma González Lima Brandão

Twitch streamer Aimsey (with striped shirt) started an impromptu "meet and greet" with fans at TwitchCon, Oct. 9, 2022.

TwitchCon is not all about games, but there are plenty of fun games, like foosball, on hand for attendees to play, Oct. 9, 2022.

Games like Connect Four are available in the "Kappa Cabana" area of the convention, Oct. 9, 2022.

TwitchCon attendees stop at the Chess.com booth to play a quick game of chess — one of the top categories on Twitch, Oct. 9, 2022.

TwitchCon attendees take a break from the convention to play Pong, a classic Atari game, Oct. 9, 2022.

Local

Beth Accomando

I cover arts and culture, from Comic-Con to opera, from pop entertainment to fine art, from zombies to Shakespeare. I am interested in going behind the scenes to explore the creative process; seeing how pop culture reflects social issues; and providing a context for art and entertainment.

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Elma González Lima Brandão

Elma González Lima Brandão is the Digital Editor at KPBS. She leads an innovative team of web producers in creating, distributing and enhancing KPBS News digital content.

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Brenden Tuccinardi

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Brenden Tuccinardi is a web producer at KPBS. He is responsible for writing web stories, copy editing and updating the station’s website. Prior to joining KPBS, Brenden was an assistant English teacher in Madrid, Spain. Before that, he served as Editor in Chief of The Daily Aztec, San Diego State’s independent student newspaper.

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Alexander Nguyen

As a North County multimedia producer, Alexander Nguyen creates content for all of KPBS' platforms, including the web and social media.

See stories by Alexander Nguyen