Core Viewpoint - The recent controversy surrounding the income of streamer Lan Zhanfei has reignited discussions about the gaming live-streaming industry, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges faced by individuals in this rapidly evolving sector [2][10]. Group 1: Background of Lan Zhanfei - Lan Zhanfei, born in 1992 in Guangdong, transitioned from a game streamer to a travel blogger, gaining attention due to past statements about his earnings [3][4]. - His rise in the gaming live-streaming industry coincided with its peak from 2016 to 2018, a period marked by intense competition and significant financial opportunities [4][9]. Group 2: Career Development - Lan Zhanfei's career began with a low point, working various jobs before finding success in gaming live-streaming, particularly with "League of Legends" and later "PUBG" [6][8]. - He experienced rapid salary growth, moving from a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan to a contract worth millions, reflecting the industry's lucrative nature during its boom [7][9]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - The gaming live-streaming industry saw explosive growth from 2011 to 2015, driven by technological advancements and the emergence of platforms like Douyu and Panda TV [9][10]. - The "thousand-broadcast war" period from 2016 to 2018 attracted 350 million users, leading to fierce competition and high salaries for top streamers [9][10]. Group 4: Current Status and Future Outlook - The gaming live-streaming industry's popularity has declined since 2019, with significant financial losses and a shift in user engagement towards platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou [10][11]. - Despite the industry's downturn, Lan Zhanfei has successfully transitioned to a travel blogger, maintaining a substantial following across multiple platforms, with over 30 million total followers [11].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise and fall of the gaming live-streaming industry through the story of the streamer Lan Zhanfei, highlighting the opportunities and challenges faced by individuals in this rapidly evolving sector [3][10]. Group 1: Background of Lan Zhanfei - Lan Zhanfei, born in 1992 in Guangdong, transitioned from a gaming streamer to a travel blogger, gaining attention due to past statements about his earnings [4][6]. - His success in the gaming live-streaming industry was attributed to a combination of luck and timing, particularly during the industry's peak from 2016 to 2018 [4][9]. Group 2: Career Development - Lan Zhanfei's career began with a low-paying job in gaming live-streaming, where he initially earned a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan, which later increased significantly as he transitioned to more popular games [6][8]. - He experienced a rapid salary increase from 1 million yuan to 10 million yuan annually after switching to "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" [8][9]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - The gaming live-streaming industry saw explosive growth from 2011 to 2018, with platforms like Douyu and Panda TV emerging during this period, leading to fierce competition and high salaries for top streamers [9][10]. - The industry's decline began in 2019, marked by the closure of Panda TV and a significant drop in total financing from approximately 70 billion yuan in 2018 to less than 20 billion yuan [10]. Group 4: Current Status and Future Outlook - As of 2023, Lan Zhanfei has transitioned to being a travel blogger, with a substantial following across multiple platforms, including 24.94 million followers on Douyin [11]. - Despite his success, the article notes that the path to financial freedom through gaming live-streaming is no longer easily replicable due to changes in the industry landscape and the emergence of new platforms [11].