Ilya Davydov, better known as Maddyson, publicly stated that the high online numbers for Dota 2 and CS2 broadcasts on Twitch are largely the result of artificial inflation. In a message shared on his Telegram channel, he argued that many content creators do not choose these games out of genuine preference, but rather because outside parties push them into doing so.
Maddyson recounted a conversation with another streamer that surprised him. He asked why that colleague kept streaming Dota all the time, wondering whether it was out of personal enjoyment or some form of payment. According to the streamer he spoke with, the answer was blunt: their agency requires them to play Dota because bookmakers favor that audience. It is not necessarily that bets are being placed directly on an individual's matches; rather, playing those titles ties into larger events and promotions that bookmakers and related sponsors support. The same dynamic, he added, applies to Counter-Strike as well.
The streamer went on to note that, in his view, three Twitch categories are particularly inflated in terms of audience numbers: GTA V RP, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike. He said these segments often show metrics that do not reflect a genuine viewer base, implying coordinated efforts to boost visible popularity. He described the situation as surprising but explained that, apparently, creators are sometimes 'forced' into those games by contractual or commercial arrangements rather than organically choosing them.
This is not the first time Maddyson has addressed the issue of artificial viewership. In earlier statements he expressed frustration at sudden drops in online numbers among Russian-speaking streamers and announced a willingness to take part in combating bot-driven inflation. At the same time, Davydov has indicated a shift in his own focus toward a different broadcasting platform, saying he wants to concentrate his efforts on Kick.