Twitch Rivals is facing backlash after announcing the title to be featured at Women’s Guild United show for International Women’s Day, where creators will be playing and competing in Overcooked 2.
The event is presented by Honda and is scheduled for March 8 at 2pm PT on the official Twitch Rivals channel and was initially framed as a celebration of women on the platform.
However, the game choice and the way the show was positioned quickly sparked criticism, with many calling the concept stereotypical for a broadcast focused on women.
The community questioned why a cooking game was chosen to anchor an International Women’s Day special. A program that’s meant to spotlight women in gaming and content creation, the combination of branding theme and game choice immediately became the center of the conversation.
One day after the announcement went live, Twitch Rivals posted a follow-up statement on X, acknowledging the discussion around the upcoming event and responding directly to backlash:
“The goal of this event is to uplift this community and as part of that, highlight women in the community in a game that emphasizes teamwork, adaptability, and shared leadership.”
“That said, we should have shared more context about the rationale behind the choice, and we should have done a better job spotlighting the creators and collaboration that helped shape this show. Future messaging will better reflect the Guild’s voice and the purpose behind the Women’s Guild United show,” they continued.
Community questions game choice and framing
At the core of the criticism is the decision to build an International Women’s Day special around Overcooked 2, a co-op cooking title known more for chaos and party gameplay than competitive esports.
Viewers argue that tying a women-led event to a cooking game risks reinforcing old stereotypes instead of highlighting the range of genres and skills women contribute to on Twitch.
Others pointed out that Twitch Rivals has run broadcasts in high-profile titles across shooters, MOBAs, and battle royales, questioning why a more traditional competitive game was not chosen for this particular show.
For some, the issue is less about Overcooked 2 itself and more about what it signals when used as the centerpiece for an International Women’s Day celebration.
The Women’s Guild United event is also notable because it is presented by Honda, continuing the car manufacturer’s ongoing presence in gaming and esports broadcasts.
Shows backed by brands, like this one, tend to mix entertainment, inclusivity messaging, and sponsorship goals, but this time, it shows how quickly perception can shift when the creative direction doesn’t land with the audience.
With Twitch Rivals now publicly addressing the situation ahead of the March broadcast, it’s still unclear whether the format or game will be adjusted before the show goes live.
