YouTube is testing an engagement leaderboard for Livestreams and it could change how viewers engage on streams forever.
First spotted on the EXPOSUREEE YouTube channel, this new feature ranks viewers in real time based on XP (short for “experience points”) earned during the livestream.
So What counts toward XP?
Comments, Super Chats, Super Stickers, Gifts. Basically: the more you participate, the higher you climb.
As explained by YouTube:
“Viewers earn points for engaging with streams and will see a crown icon at the top of the chat with the points they’ve earned from engaging on the creator’s live streams. When they click on the crown icon, they’ll be taken to the leaderboard to see the top 50 most engaged viewers on that channel.”
The top three most-engaged viewers will get a badge that will appear next to their name on livestreams, which could help them get noticed by the creator during the stream.
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The test is currently deployed within the YouTube Gaming ecosystem, where loyalty, real-time energy, and fan participation are already core to the experience. So in a way, gamifying engagement within gaming streams feels like a natural fit.
But here’s the interesting bit for brands, creators, and community strategists: This isn’t just a leaderboard. It’s a culture move.
YouTube is doubling down on recognition: rewarding active viewers, spotlighting superfans, and turning passive audiences into active communities. It’s also a subtle nod to platforms like Twitch and Discord, where gamified community dynamics have long been the norm.
Will this roll out more broadly across YouTube? Too soon to tell. But one thing is clear: The future of engagement is interactive, competitive, and, yes, gamified.
