One of Twitch’s top streamers, Félix Lengyel, also known online as xQc, has taken his talents to a brand new platform. The 27-year-old former Overwatch pro, who has been streaming on Twitch since 2014, has signed a two-year contract with Kick, a new live streaming service. The major deal is worth around $70 million, and according to sources, could soar up to around $100 million with certain incentives.
Twitch Vs. Kick
Kick, backed financially by Australian online gambling sites such as Easygo Gaming and Stake.com, debuted in 2023. In contrast to Twitch’s traditional stance against gambling content, Kick encourages it. But beyond this difference in content approach, there’s a significant disparity in their streamer earnings policy too.
While Twitch slices off a substantial 50% cut from streamers’ subscription earnings, Kick retains only a humble 5%. This stark contrast in the revenue model could prove a game-changer in the long run, providing streamers with greater earning potential.
What Does this Move Mean?
xQc’s move to Kick is more than just a financial decision. As he stated, “Kick is allowing me to try and do things I haven’t been able to before. I’m extremely excited to take this opportunity and maximize it into new creative and fresh ideas over coming years.” With 12 million followers to his name, the influence and pull of xQc could make a substantial difference to Kick’s market positioning.
Ed Craven, Kick’s CEO and founder of Stake online gambling platform, is clear about the company’s strategy – to compete with Twitch, even if it means operating at a loss initially. At present, Kick records around 110,000 livestreams daily, a small number compared to Twitch’s seven million monthly streamers and 31 million daily viewers.
But the arrival of a mega-streamer like xQc might alter this landscape significantly. As his agent, Ryan Morrison, pointed out, the deal with xQc is one of the highest in entertainment. It’s a signal that the live streaming industry’s landscape is shifting, and Kick might just be at the forefront of this change.
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