Popular Twitch streamer Sykkuno recently left the platform after receiving a contract in which it misspelled his name. This news surfaced amidst a recent string of major acquisitions by YouTube Gaming and consternation surrounding Twitch streamers.
Former Twitch streamer Sykkuno became quite renowned for streaming a variety of games, including Fortnite, Valorant, and Grand Theft Auto Online. Located out of Southern California, he streamed on Twitch from 2019 until April of this year. Sykkuno rose quickly through the ranks of Twitch within a relatively short time. He accumulated over four million followers by the time he left the platform. After leaving in April, Sykkuno almost immediately started his work with YouTube Gaming, beginning in May. This departure came as a surprise to many, given the streamer’s high level of success on Twitch.
It was noted in Dexerto‘s recent post on Twitter that Sykkuno has now revealed what ultimately motivated him to leave Twitch and take his talents to YouTube Gaming. Entertainment writer Dave Deiley of Dexerto recently outlined Sykkuno’s thought process regarding the entire ordeal; despite having tremendous success on Twitch, Sykkuno stated that his first reason for deciding to leave the platform was due to payment. When YouTube Gaming made the content creator an offer to acquire him, it stood in stark contrast to the initial offer from Twitch. For Sykkuno, this was a no-brainer, yet he was shocked by Twitch’s “backflip” in which they matched YouTube’s offer. He was planning on staying with Twitch; however, when the contract was sent, the streamer’s name was spelled as “Sukkono.” Sykkuno then agreed to terms with YouTube, pointing toward Twitch’s lack of professionalism and poor management as the deciding factor.
A piece of valuable context comes in the form of Twitch’s building reputation for low-balling their streamers. As aforementioned, YouTube has a recent string of major acquisitions, many being former streamers on Twitch. Other streamers that have left Twitch for YouTube Gaming include Valkyrae, DrLupo, TimTheTatman, and other notable names. While some of these departures may be due to non-monetary personal reasons, it is no secret that YouTube Gaming is offering streamers large contracts that Twitch isn’t competing with. Whether the platform cannot afford to compete or isn’t willing to is open for interpretation. In the case of Sykkuno, he described Twitch’s initial offer as “garbage.”
For fans of Sykkuno and streaming in general, this news sheds light on the current situation involving Twitch and YouTube Gaming. It may be a surprising discovery for many that Sykkuno’s final decision to leave Twitch wasn’t about the money. His departure further contextualizes the dynamic between the competing streaming platforms. This is applicable primarily in the case of Twitch, as a very successful streamer has publicly stated his qualms with the platform. Meanwhile, more streamers are likely to be enticed by offers from YouTube Gaming.
