Game on: UK's top influencers in the Christmas runup

Watching gamers on YouTube has become a widely enjoyed pastime and an essential way for consumers to try before they buy. A new generation of independent and authentic amateur opinion-formers are continually uploading content with their views on brands, products and tech – building highly engaged audiences, and overtaking traditional media in terms of influence.  

As the run up to Christmas begins, viewership on YouTube gaming channels is expected to be even higher, as gamers across the UK look to see which of the star studded lineup of new releases to fill their stockings with – whether it’s Fifa 17, Gears Of War 4, Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare or Mafia III.

It’s a challenge and an opportunity for PR and comms teams to discover the online talent that is helping to drive brand opinion, and filtering out the key individuals to partner with.

Here at Instrumental we have developed our own in-house technology to track rising digital content creators across different verticals. This month, we've tracked UK based Gaming channels with under 250,000 subscribers, who have demonstrated high % subscriber growth. We used these results to inform this most comprehensive list: Top 10 ‘ones to watch’ from the Gaming category.  

The ones to watch

1. Super Gaming Family

In this no-holds-barred channel, the whole family get involved in the gaming fun. From July to August Super Gaming Family increased their monthly views by 200,000. They now average an impressive 2 million views per month.

YouTube username: londontownn17
Subscribers: 60,512
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UC4-GMuJw3JIxfqXQlvvv93Q
Best games: Marvel: Contest of Champions

2. Hypercore Ripper

Hypercore Ripper has experienced massive growth in October, adding 25,000 new subscribers in just two weeks. Unlike many YouTube gamers, his gameplay footage does not include a facecam – purely gameplay and voiceover.

YouTube username: hypercoreripper
Subscribers: 69,454
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCOj1279n5mk5tH-BQuFN-2w
Best game: Legendary: Paint the Town Red

3. GameOnTom

Tom has one of the most consistently growing UK gaming channels on YouTube, growing at 5% week on week, as his viewers keep coming back for 8 ball pool videos.

YouTube username: gameontom
Subscribers: 25,656
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCt8jYquuings9UK0w4DVvew
Best game: 8 ball pool

4. CaniSports

Cani's Fifa Career mode videos bring him almost 1 million views per month. This growth can be particularly attributed to how well the creator interacts with his subscribers, who have a direct influence on the content he produces, and whom he calls his assistant coaches.

YouTube username: canisports
Subscribers: 174,097
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCL9uvXqF4g5rrw7g3pbrj7g
Best games: FIFA 14, FIFA 15, FIFA 16

5. TheOrionSound

Orion Sound’s viral Crazycraft 3.0 videos shot him to fame within the minecraft community, in which he still remains highly influential, averaging over 1 million views per month.

YouTube username: theorionsound
Subscribers: 238,596
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQne7qUlo887f3ryu5nMqaA
Best game: Minecraft

6. xHOUNDISHx

On average Houndish receives 50,000 views per week. October saw a particularly big upturn, where he received on average 200,000 views per week.

YouTube username: houndishgiggle1910
Subscribers: 28,545
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCEGGfAGliVUKFnGl4M0_ZQw
Best game: Destiny

7. TheLondonProject Channel

The London Project's Call Of Duty videos are resonating with COD fans, leading to weekly subscriber growth of 8% in August for the UK gamer.

YouTube username: TheLondonProject Channel
Subscribers: 50,968
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UC4tptJyxz1XM5tugvPW1pIw
Best games: Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty

8. Violate

A couple of viral videos on the game Destiny has led to the channel adding 1/6th of its audience in new subscribers in October alone!

YouTube username: Violate
Subscribers: 27,801
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCzY8Abd88rCu7uxEPHCrWZA
Best game: Destiny

9. iHazCarrot

Ever since iHazCarrot switched to Fifa 17 content, his channel has experienced massive growth. In the first week of October alone, iHazCarrot has seen a 17% increase in overall subscribers.

YouTube username: iHazCarrot
Subscribers: 27,949
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UCUYuHAAuXP2I95iTylmN0wA
Best games: FIFA 14, FIFA 15, FIFA 16, Call of Duty: Black Ops III

10. Prodigio Pete

When it comes to Rainbow Six Siege, Prodigio Pete is one of the most influential gamers on YouTube. This week his videos on the game have put him in the top 25 for the fastest growing Gaming channels.

YouTube username: prodigiopete
Subscribers: 30,158
YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/channel/UC7tZJM4Dt_8TWHxwZyQsuHA
Best games: Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield Hardline, Battlefield 4