Today, Twitch mega-star and patron saint of Fortnite, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, announced he will move his stream exclusively to Mixer. It’s a shocking move, and there is a lot to unpack. The announcement came complemented with a humorous video that unfortunately doesn’t explain or answer anything about the move, though we have a personal source that sheds at least some light on the matter.

Much like his character in the video, real-life Ninja has disclosed almost nothing about the move. In a more sincere and visibly improvised address to his followers, Ninja stated simply that he is returning to his “streaming roots.” But he also says that he has been holding onto the news for a while. And a source close to the matter tells us that this move has been in the making for some time.

Bidding war

A source at Twitch had previously disclosed to Daily Esports that Ninja’s future with the streaming giant was uncertain. The source stated that Twitch had been in a bidding war with Mixer and YouTube Gaming over an exclusive deal with Ninja for some time now. At the time, the companies were discussing a number between $50 and $100 million. We don’t know what the final deal is, but it must be spectacular to lure Ninja away from the financial security of being one of the biggest streamers on Twitch.

What’s next?

Arguably, Ninja is banking on his followers to follow. After all, for the viewers it’s always personality over platform. Mixer is not that different from Twitch, and some streamers have done really well for themselves by switching over. For smaller channels, or people who are just starting up, it helps to not have to compete with Twitch behemoths like Ninja himself. Mixer offers a more level playing field. That can be great for people who stream lesser-known games with smaller communities.

But for someone who already has a massive following on Twitch, there are no inherent benefits in switching. Ninja’s rise to popularity is intertwined with Twitch’s own growth to the top of the streaming business. He carved his history on the site and fostered his own community. It is worth repeating: Microsoft must have made him an incredible offer to force a move that will have unpredictable effects on his career.

Stay tuned to Daily Esports for more information on the matter!