YouTube is preparing a significant change to the requirements for creators seeking a share of advertising revenue. From February 2027, joining the revenue-sharing level of the YouTube Partner Program will require either 8,000 hours of viewing time during the previous 12 months or 20 million YouTube Shorts views in the previous 90 days.
Both figures are twice the former requirements. That gives aspiring creators a limited window to qualify under the current system, while raising concerns that future earnings could become inaccessible to smaller channels.
The long-form threshold is difficult, but familiar
Creators discussing the update have generally treated 8,000 hours as a substantial but achievable target. The revised entry requirements will apply to new applicants rather than removing existing members from the programme. Creators who later fall below the stated figures will not automatically be ejected.
The more contentious issue concerns Shorts. At present, Shorts advertising revenue is pooled and distributed using factors including view counts and whether a video uses licensed music, along with other considerations. YouTube’s current Shorts revenue guidance explains the existing model.
Shorts payments could become harder to retain
Under the new arrangement described by the source material, creators will need 10 million cumulative Shorts views within 90 days to receive Shorts advertising revenue. This is separate from the 20 million views cited for entry to the higher revenue-sharing tier, creating two different milestones with different consequences.
A creator below the 10 million Shorts figure would not lose advertising income from long-form videos. However, Shorts payments would stop until the channel again reached the threshold. YouTube could still place advertisements against those Shorts without sharing that Shorts revenue with an account that did not qualify.
For many small channels, the concern is not simply reaching a large number once. It is maintaining 10 million Shorts views every 90 days.
That distinction has alarmed creators who have already joined the Partner Program but have never approached 10 million views in a three-month period. Gaming channels were among those expressing concern, with one Rocket League creator arguing that reaching the target would be particularly difficult for a specialised channel.
Creators question who benefits
YouTube says the changes are intended to reward creators who generate conversation and engagement on the platform. Some commentators believe the higher entry barrier could slow down low-quality, AI-generated channels that rapidly create accounts and attempt to monetise them.
Others argue that the Shorts rule could favour precisely the channels able to publish huge volumes of content. Their concern is that automated or low-effort operations can increase output more easily than human creators, leaving smaller original channels to produce twice the work for the same uncertain result.
The reaction has included accusations that the platform is moving the target after creators have invested years in building audiences. Others have asked YouTube to clarify whether established Partner Program members who have never reached 10 million Shorts views would also lose Shorts income.
A tougher contest for short-form attention
Short-form video remains central to the online advertising battle. Shorts is YouTube’s answer to TikTok, and the revised incentives appear designed to increase the amount of short-form material available on the platform. The wider competition for advertising budgets is also being shaped by changing conditions around TikTok, as reported in industry coverage of the ad market.
For creators, however, the strategy may have the opposite effect if the targets feel unattainable. When advertising income is placed behind a performance level that smaller channels cannot reliably reach, the incentive to keep making Shorts can weaken rather than grow.
That matters to gaming creators, including people documenting arcade builds, reviewing hardware or sharing gameplay clips. A sustainable channel may depend on more than one format, so creators may need to balance Shorts with longer videos, direct audience support and other revenue sources. RETROCADE readers interested in the production side of arcade content can explore our arcade videos and arcade news and features.
What creators should watch before February 2027
- New applicants may need 8,000 watch hours in 12 months or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days.
- The revised entry figures are double the previous requirements.
- Existing Partner Program members are not automatically removed for falling below the entry figures.
- Shorts advertising payments are described as requiring 10 million Shorts views across 90 days.
- Long-form advertising revenue is not affected when a creator misses the Shorts threshold.
For arcade-focused channels, that makes planning especially important. A creator choosing between a compact cabinet showcase, a repair tutorial or a quick gameplay clip should consider not only reach, but also how reliably each format can build a returning audience. Our arcade machine buying guide and arcade parts range cover subjects that can support more detailed, evergreen video work.
The central dispute is therefore not whether creators should meet clear standards. It is whether a rolling Shorts target of 10 million views every 90 days creates a fair pathway for independent channels, or simply concentrates monetisation among the largest and most prolific publishers.
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