Instead of other newsletter platforms, Substack should be compared to services giving creators direct relationships with fans, like Shopify, Twitch, and Patreon (Hamish McKenzie/On Substack)

Hamish McKenzie / On Substack:
Substack co-founder says it’s time for a “real alternative” to Twitter, and plans features to let writers and readers “hang out”, show their status, and more  —  It’s time you had your own private social network  —  If you’re into writing and reading …

Twitch Blog:
Starting June 1, 2023, Twitch says subscription revenue above $100K will be split 50/50, not 70/30, for streamers on premium deals, citing hosting costs  —  Hello, Twitch community.  I’m Dan Clancy, President of Twitch and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the service.

Tonya Riley / CyberScoop:
Some ex-staff say Patreon laid off its entire security team this week, raising concerns among users, but Patreon says the layoffs will not impact its security  —  Patreon laid off its security team this week, according to several former employees, sparking cybersecurity concerns among users …

Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch:
Patreon cuts ~17% of its staff, or 80 positions, and closes offices in Dublin and Berlin; the company raised $155M in April 2021 at a $4B valuation  —  The creator subscription company Patreon is the latest company to be affected by a long line of tech layoffs.

Mia Sato / The Verge:
Patreon launches a native ad-free video hosting tool for creators, expanding on support for third-party players, available to a select group in beta  —  The update marks a major shift in how creators on Patreon can share video content with fans.  Previously, creators had to upload videos …

Cecilia D’Anastasio / Bloomberg:
Internal letter shows Twitch SVP of global creators Constance Knight resigned on the same day the company announced revenue sharing changes for top creators  —  The senior vice president of global creators at Twitch told employees she is leaving the company on the same day it announced changes …