InfoSearched
Published -
- June 23, 2020
- 9:21 pm
The writing was on the wall (and it’s not a complete surprise), but Microsoft announced this week that their streaming platform Mixer will be no more…
Oh wait, what? They just told everyone with a tweet so a lot of people were totally surprised? Oh my god Ninja made how much? Shroud too?! Facebook? Oh sorry, I got distracted.
What was the main reason for Mixer’s downfall and inability to compete with larger platforms such as Twitch and YouTube?
The gaming industry has seen significant growth over the past few years, with millions of gamers around the world investing their time and resources into various platforms. With the advent of live streaming, gaming platforms have become even more popular, with famous gamers known as streamers attracting huge followings.
Two of the most well-known streamers in the industry are Mixer’s Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek. However, while Ninja has become a household name, and a millionaire in the process, Mixer, the Microsoft-owned platform he used, has been shut down.
Mixer was launched in 2016 and had over five million monthly active users. Despite its impressive growth, Mixer struggled to compete with other platforms such as Twitch, which boasts over 15 million daily active users. In a bid to boost its own platform, Microsoft signed exclusive deals with top streamers, including Ninja and Shroud.
Ninja, who rose to fame with his Fortnite gameplay content, announced his move from Twitch to Mixer in August 2019. The move was a significant blow to Twitch, as Ninja had over 14 million followers on the platform. Microsoft’s exclusive deal with Ninja, worth a reported $20 to $30 million, was also a significant investment in the fledgling platform.
However, in June 2020, just 11 months after moving to Mixer, Ninja announced his departure from the platform. The announcement came after Microsoft’s decision to shut down the platform due to its inability to compete with larger platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. In a statement released on Twitter, Ninja stated that the move was “the best decision” for his career.
While Mixer’s downfall has been unfortunate, Ninja’s move to the platform certainly had a positive impact on his income. Estimates suggest that Ninja earned over $10 million from his partnership with Mixer. The streamer also has various sponsorship deals and his own merchandise line, adding to his impressive net worth.
Despite the collapse of Mixer and the platform’s inability to compete with Twitch, Ninja’s success in the industry demonstrates the potential for streamers to capitalize on their popularity. The rise of gaming and live streaming has opened up new opportunities for content creators, with many earning significant incomes from sponsorships and other partnerships.
In conclusion, Ninja’s move to Mixer may not have been the success Microsoft had hoped for, but it was a significant one for the streamer. The platform may have closed its doors, but Ninja’s robust following and successful career show just how valuable and lucrative the gaming industry can be for those who create exceptional content. As the industry continues to grow, we can expect to see more content creators thriving not only in gaming but in other industries as well.
