Trending on YouTube because of Forza Horizon 5

Trending on YouTube at number 3 does not happen often. Here’s what happened and a look at some of the stats from the first 36 hours.

Despite having been a full-time YouTuber for a while, trending on YouTube was never never the plan – and certainly not third above Eddie How and his first day at Newcastle. Sorry Eddie.

It was 2am by the time my dial-up internet uploaded the Forza Horizon 5 money tips and tricks video. Posting off-peak, I thought I would get a few thousand hits. If that. Maybe a couple of loyal fans would give me a digital pat on the back. And then suddenly something happened.

Before I went to sleep it was already my fastest growing video on A Tribe Called Cars. By 5pm the next day it was at 60,000 views. Quite a lot for a dry subject that is hardly riveting.

Since then, my Forza Horizon 5 money making video nudged 190,000 views in 36 hours while amassing 717 comments (some are mine), 4,500 likes and 145 dislikes. Potentially from Playground Games. I just did not realise the full power of trending on YouTube.

It also caused 867 people visited the related article on ATribeCalledCars.com, which is proof that barely anyone reads the descriptions.

However, what happened within Forza Horizon 5 was just as interesting. Some people reported my tunes had vanished, as if I was shadow banned. Had I upset the developer overlords?

Even if I have, I can tell you that the two original tunes in the video – one for the BMW X5 M Forza Edition, a true AFK Goliath king and another for the overpowered Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Forza Edition – are making me millions.

In those 36 hours of trending on YouTube I received 5,297 tune downloads. Each one earning me 100 credits. Then there were the 202 likes (at 500 credits each) and, most ridiculous of all, 62,708 tune uses at 200 credits apiece. I also received 60 kudos points.

The two custom Goliath AFK blueprints, meanwhile, saw 3,071 downloads at 10 credits each, 3,790 likes at 50 credits, 3,752 uses at 20 credits and another 149 kudos. Total money made in Forza Horizon 5 in 36 hours without doing a thing: 13,467,620 credits.

Not only that, 143 people now follow me within Forza Horizon 5, which might actually be useful when I make proper car tunes like I did in Forza Horizon 4. Not just cheesy ‘away from keyboard’ AKF driverless setups. Although that has been strangely rewarding in its own way.

Now I would show you the real money made on a video with more 225,000 views. Except for the fact that stat has not caught up. Let’s just say I doubt I will be retiring early.

I also noticed that nobody bought any merch, which is hardly surprising. On the flip-side, my YouTube analytics showed a spike of 3 million impressions, 12,000 hours of watch time, at least 800 new subscribers and a click-through rate initially above 20 per cent.

98.8 per cent of viewers were male and 1.2 per cent were female, ignoring the fact YouTube does not get anymore specific than that. The largest audience was 18 to 24, followed by 24 to 35. A mere 0.8 per cent of viewers were 55 to 64 and the same again for 65+. Oldies have no time for such trivial pursuits, apparently.

As for the geography stuff (in case anyone is still awake and/or breathing) the US represented 6.8 per cent of views. Next largest was 1 per cent from the UK, 0.9 per cent from Australia, then 0.8 per cent from Canada. Mexico came in at 0.4 per cent, which is nice for a game set in Mexico.

 YouTube simply grouped 89.2 per cent of countries outside of the top 10 as ‘other’, which is hardly the most detailed analysis.

Basically, the too long didn’t read (or watch, click the play button above) is that for some reason YouTube thought my video made the most sense to go on trending.

If I had to guess why, maybe it is because videos that beat me to it were from smaller channels and because I actually explained the issue using a microphone and not text on screen. Or maybe someo tripped and fell on the wrong button at the YouTube towers.

Whatever the reason, trending at number 3 on YouTube was pretty mad for a channel with a mere 35,000 subscribers. I can only hope my Forza Horizon 5 ‘Hot Dinners’ song gets as much love. And that Eddie How can find it in his heart to forgive me.

Forza Horizon 5 trending stats (first 36 hours)

• 5,297 tune downloads x 100 credits
• 202 likes x 500 credits
• 62,708 tune uses x 200 credits
• 189 kudos points
• 3,071 blueprint downloads x 10 credits each
• 3,790 likes x 50 credits
• 3,752 uses x 20 credits
• Total money made = 13,467,620 credits

YouTube video stats (same as above)

• 160,000 views
• 4,000 likes / 124 dislikes
• 20%+ click-through rate
• 67.7% of views from YouTube search
• 12.7% from browse features
• 854 subscribers gained
• Controller disconnect comments: Countless