LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kick's non-exclusive deal with well-known Twitch streamer xQc has generated quite the buzz on the Internet. It's hardly surprising that xQc's supporters have migrated to Twitch's competing live-streaming platform considering the streamer was part of Twitch's top tier at the time of his contract.
But he arrived like a bolt from the blue. Since the website has been experiencing problems keeping online due to the high volume of visitors, Kick has promised to replace their servers soon. Here's a look at the volatile situation Kick has found itself in.
Why are streamers switching to Kick?
Many Twitch streamers are choosing Kick because it provides significantly more money-making options. Kick, which is run by online gambler Tyler 'Trainwreck' Niknam, who first gained fame on Twitch, is extremely similar to other streaming sites in terms of both design and content, with gaming serving as a primary form of entertainment. The New York Times stated that Kick had recruited Felix 'xQc' Lengyel, one of the most well-known streamers on the globe, for a contract of $100 million. The move has apparently led to more than one million streamers leaving Twitch. However, xQc has stated that he would continue to use Twitch for his streams.
Besides, Amouranth, Twitch's top female broadcaster, also left the platform in what is believed to be a non-exclusive arrangement with Kick, joining xQc. In an announcement video where she is seen reading about xQc's deal with Kick, Amouranth says, "So, 100 million dollar deals have started… Can I get one of those?"
Growth in Kick's popularity
Over a million people signed up for Kick in just 24 hours, indicating that they went out of their way to register and perhaps subscribe to their favorite streamers. It would be safe to argue that users who register with Kick are much more likely to visit the website again and increase traffic in the future. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Kick experienced such tremendous traffic that the website found it difficult to maintain its services.
Kick claims that they are going through "exponential growth" and are updating their services to cope. This will prove particularly crucial considering xQc regularly holds a viewer count close to 70K. Though it's unclear whether Kick's bet on xQc will pay off in the long run, it's obvious that their investment is already giving Twitch a run for its money.
