The streamer xQc complains about his previous collaboration with Twitch. Now, for the first time, he also explains his departure – of course, the $100 million didn't play a role...
One of the most successful streamers worldwide, xQc, has been streaming on Kick for almost two years now.
After a wave of influencers moving to the new platform in 2023, drawn in by lucrative Kick contracts, the platform has become somewhat quieter recently.
However, not all streamers who joined Kick stayed long-term. For example, YourRage returned to Twitch after a brief period on Kick, likely due to contractual obligations.
Additionally, Adin Ross made headlines in December 2024 with his indefinite departure from Kick, as he focused on trying to regain access to Twitch.
xQc trolled by Twitch?
When xQc confirmed in June 2023 that he had accepted a non-exclusive deal worth a staggering $100 million from Kick, many in the community were shocked.
This deal raised questions about whether he truly needed the money and if financial greed played a role in his decision.
5 years ago, we let @xQc stay at our L.A. apartment when he needed a place to stay. The desk was cardboard boxes we stacked on top of each other. He slept on an air mattress right there.Today he signed a $100 million deal with @KickStreaming.Unreal. pic.twitter.com/Nd7qOosb3H
— Jonathan Snowden (@Reinforce) June 16, 2023
After all, xQc had been one of the top 3 streamers on Twitch for a significant period, benefiting from an exclusive Twitch partnership, sponsorships, and more. Financially, he should have been doing just fine.
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.
While many on social media are sure that the $100 million deal was a significant factor, xQc denies this and instead talks about his personal goals.
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 offered enormous deals to large streamers like xQc, Adin Ross, Trainwreckstv, and YourRage, with a tempting 95/5 revenue split, the successful attempt to poach the richest streamers from Twitch.
Kick CEO Eddie CONFIRMS they will be offering $200 million in streaming contracts in the future100x $1 million and 1,000x $100,000 streaming contracts... actually insane pic.twitter.com/D4zafIZVTo
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) July 26, 2023
These offers were financially feasible due to Kick's connection to the gambling industry.
Gambling controversy
Kick is owned by Ed Craven, CEO of Stake, one of the world’s largest crypto casinos. Most of Kick's investments and funding come from the gambling sector, which raises concerns due to the platform's close ties with the gambling world.
Although Kick is primarily a streaming platform intended for entertainment, the lack of age verification and the presence of gambling-related content have led to concerns, especially considering that many young and sometimes underage viewers follow the streams.
This close connection between streaming and gambling could potentially promote unhealthy behaviors and addiction, which is problematic for a platform targeting a younger audience.
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.. pic.twitter.com/ZpTKt3wqKj
— clip (@clippedszn) December 10, 2024
After all, Ross is known for pushing boundaries with edgy content, so responsibility in terms of influence may not have been a major concern for him.
Nevertheless, he recently announced his departure from Kick and plans to return to Twitch, with an upcoming statement expected. Similarly, YourRage also left the platform due to issues, and it is speculated that their decisions were driven by dissatisfaction with Kick’s management or financial terms.
xQc, however, sees the departures of these streamers as no big deal for Kick, but calls them unprofessional. He believes the platform is more successful than ever and continues to support it despite some high-profile exits.
What do you think about Kick? Let us know in the comments!