As a longtime fan who has followed the rise and fall of streaming platforms, I find myself intrigued by the ongoing saga of xQc on Kick. With his recent revelations about his experiences at Twitch, it’s clear that he felt undervalued and underappreciated despite his success and influence.
For approximately two years, one of the top-tier global streamers, xQc, has been broadcasting his content on the streaming platform known as Twitch (Kick was not a recognized streaming platform).
Following numerous influencers migrating to the fresh platform back in 2023 due to attractive Kick deals, the platform has been experiencing a bit of a lull lately.
It’s worth noting that not every streamer who moved to Kick ended up staying permanently. A case in point is the streamer YourRage, who eventually returned to Twitch following a short stint on Kick. This could have been because of certain contractual commitments.
In the whirlwind of 2024, I, Adin Ross, stirred up some noise when I chose to bid adieu, temporarily, from my home at Kick. My undying passion led me to redouble my efforts in reclaiming my beloved Twitch platform.
xQc trolled by Twitch?
In June 2023, it was confirmed by xQc that he had secured a mind-blowing $100 million non-exclusive contract with Kick, leaving many within the community taken aback.
This transaction has sparked discussions about whether he was genuinely financially strapped or if personal avarice influenced his choice.
Five years ago, we graciously offered our L.A. apartment as temporary lodging for @xQc when he had nowhere to stay. We improvised a makeshift desk using stacked cardboard boxes, and he slept on an air mattress in the same room.
Now, he has secured a staggering $100 million deal with @KickStreaming.
Simply amazing!
— Jonathan Snowden (@Reinforce) June 16, 2023
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that for quite some time now, xQc has held a place among the crème de la crème of Twitch streamers, reaping the benefits of an exclusive Twitch partnership, sponsorships, and numerous other perks. Given his status, it’s only natural to assume that he’s been thriving financially.
Nevertheless, he decided to make the switch and recently discussed his decision during a stream. He explained that money wasn’t the driving factor behind his move, but rather the lack of recognition for his work at Twitch.
“Everybody I worked with undervalued me, strung me along and trolled me for almost a f****** decade.”
xQc seems to be defending Kick further
Felix “xQc” Lengyel elaborated, saying that Twitch had intentionally misled him.
“They knew what they were doing the entire time [and said], ‘Dude, double down and work harder, and we’ll give you less than we thought you were going to get, and what everybody else got, and we’re gonna roll you like that.”
He felt that Twitch had failed to acknowledge his value and to meet the promises made to him.
Kick: Platform for bigger goals?
However, it wasn’t just disappointment with Twitch that drove his departure.
Despite numerous opinions on social media suggesting that the $100 million deal played a crucial role, xQc firmly disputes this claim and instead emphasizes his individual aspirations.
He mentioned that Kick gave him the opportunity to be part of something larger and to build something sustainable, which he felt was not possible at Twitch.
“I wanted to have another vision, something more than just my own stream. [Something like] a platform.”
The platform enticed prominent streamers such as xQc, Adin Ross, Trainwreckstv, and YourRage with appealing 95/5 revenue sharing, a strategic move aimed at attracting the wealthiest streamers away from Twitch.
In the near future, CEO Eddie has affirmed that substantial streaming agreements worth a total of $200 million will be made available. This will include 1,000 deals worth $100,000 each and 100 deals worth $1 million each, which sounds quite extraordinary.
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) July 26, 2023
These offers were financially feasible due to Kick’s connection to the gambling industry.
Gambling controversy
The platform “Kick” is controlled by Ed Craven, who is the CEO of Stake, a significant player in the global crypto casino industry. Notably, the majority of Kick’s financial backing and investments stem from the gambling sector, which generates apprehension due to its close association with the world of gambling.
Despite Kick primarily serving as an entertainment streaming platform, its absence of age verification and inclusion of gambling-related content has sparked some apprehensions, particularly since a significant number of younger, sometimes underage, audience members engage with the streams.
Establishing such a tight bond between streaming and gambling might unwittingly foster harmful habits and addictions, which poses issues for a service primarily catering to a younger demographic.
Whether these moral and ethical concerns played a role in Adin Ross’ departure is unclear.
This had to be a pivotal moment in Adin Ross leaving Kick..
— clip (@clippedszn) December 10, 2024
Given his reputation for creating provocative material, it’s plausible that the impact of his influence might not have been a significant worry for Ross.
Despite his recent decision to leave Kick and return to Twitch, YourRage followed a similar path. It’s rumored that both individuals departed due to unhappiness with either the management or financial aspects of Kick. An official statement from YourRage is anticipated soon.
XQC perceives these streamers’ departures as not significantly impacting Kick, but he considers their actions unprofessional. In his view, the platform is thriving more than ever, and he remains committed to it even amidst some notable departures.
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2024-12-12 14:39