Manuel Otto, Stick Run Creator, Dies at 30 After Twitch Livestream Incident

Manuel Otto, a German video game creator and influencer, died at age 30 on Tuesday following an incident during a Twitch livestream. Otto created Stick Run, a free-to-play multiplayer game in which players control a stick figure navigating obstacle courses while collecting coins and points. He launched the game on Facebook in 2010 at age 14, and it became widely popular across desktop and mobile platforms, with reports indicating more than 43 million people worldwide have played it. In 2019, Otto announced that Stick Run 2 was in development.

Authorities in Bavaria, southeast Germany, responded to reports of a fire in an attic room at a property in the Bavarian village of Breitbrunn am Chiemsee on Tuesday. Otto's body was found at the scene after a neighbor noticed the blaze and attempted to extinguish it. The Stick Run Team and Twitch both confirmed that a livestream involving Otto was broadcast on the platform during the incident. Multiple news reports indicate Otto appeared to set himself on fire during the livestream.

Twitch stated that the company "moved quickly to remove the channel and Video on Demand to prevent it from being viewed by others." The Stick Run Team released multiple statements acknowledging the incident. An initial statement said Otto "appeared to have taken his own life" in the livestream, and a follow-up statement confirmed his death: "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm and announce the passing of our creator, developer, and fellow Stick Runner, Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto." The team added that Stick Run "was more than just a game" and thanked Otto for being "part of our childhood," noting his legacy would live on through the game's players.

The Stick Run Team requested that the community refrain from spreading unverified information and asked for privacy for those involved. Twitch issued a statement saying, "What took place is horrible, and the mental health and wellbeing of our community matters deeply to us. We encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek support, and we offer tools on Twitch to help people connect with local mental health resources in their area."

Otto's death has prompted discussion about mental health support and online safety. Multiple sources provided crisis resources, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 or 800-273-8255) and the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org). In Canada, resources include the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868).