By Sagar V. Mankar 
Valkyrae, one of the prominent internet influencers, is set to make her long-awaited return to Twitch in early 2025. After five successful years streaming exclusively on YouTube, Valkyrae revealed she will celebrate her 10-year streaming anniversary with her first Twitch stream on January 8, 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about her comeback and what fans can expect.
Who is Valkyrae?
Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter is an American streamer, entrepreneur, and influencer. She first rose to fame on Twitch, gaining recognition for her Fortnite gameplay during the game’s peak popularity.
In 2020, she signed an exclusive contract with YouTube, where her channel, @Valkyrae, has grown to over 4 million subscribers. Alongside streaming popular titles like Fortnite, VALORANT, and Among Us, Valkyrae also shares vlogs and collaborative content.
Beyond her streaming career, Valkyrae is a co-owner of the esports organization 100 Thieves, where she became the first female content creator in the organization.
She also co-hosts the podcast Press Esc, featuring guests such as Markiplier and QTCinderella.
Additionally, Valkyrae founded Hihi Studios, a media company set to release its debut manga series Apollyon in early 2025.
Valkyrae has also made a mark in acting, with roles in productions like Sonic Prime and music videos for Bella Poarch’s Build a B—- and The Kid Laroi’s Girls. Recently, she announced her role as a voice actor in Lionsgate’s upcoming animated film Goldbeak, set for release in 2025.
Valkyrae’s Streaming Journey
Valkyrae began her streaming career on Twitch in 2015, building a loyal community with her engaging personality and gameplay skills. Her popularity skyrocketed in 2017 during Fortnite’s golden era. By 2020, YouTube offered her an exclusive streaming contract, marking the start of a successful five-year run on the platform.
During her time on YouTube, Valkyrae thrived, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when games like Among Us brought her massive viewership. She frequently collaborated with creators like Pokimane, Sykkuno, and Disguised Toast, further cementing her position as a leading figure in the streaming world.
In 2022, YouTube extended Valkyrae’s contract, and she continued to post vlogs and long-form content alongside her streams. However, as 2025 approaches, she has decided to return to her roots on Twitch.
Return Announcement
On December 29, 2024, Valkyrae shared her return plans on X (formerly Twitter):
“After 3 contracts and 5 years later, I’ve officially completed my last contract streaming exclusively on YouTube. I’ll be doing my first stream on Twitch on my birthday, January 8th! Celebrating 10 years of streaming as well as a special marathon announcement.”
Her announcement quickly went viral, receiving over 62k likes. Fellow streamers, including Ludwig and Pokimane, expressed their excitement. Ludwig humorously suggested multistreaming, while Pokimane cheered, saying, “YAAAAAY VALKYRAE BACK ON TWITCH.”
Fans also shared their enthusiasm, with one posting, “Can’t wait to see you grow on Twitch again, Rae! So excited!”
What to Expect from Valkyrae’s Twitch Return
Valkyrae hinted at hosting a marathon stream following her Twitch comeback, aligning with the growing trend of long-form events on the platform. These marathons often involve extended live sessions, sometimes paired with goals like reaching subscriber milestones or raising funds for charity [Like Kai Cenat steamed a month-long Mafiathon 2 recently].
Details about her marathon will be announced during her first stream on January 8, 2025. Fans can tune in to her Twitch channel, www.twitch.tv/valkyrae, to catch the celebration.
Sources: X, YouTube, Instagram.