Creator of popular web browser game dies after shocking Twitch livestream in which he reportedly set himself ablaze

Manuel Otto, a Twitch streamer and the developer of the popular game Stick Run, has passed away after allegedly filming his attempted suicide on his livestream. Fans have expressed their sympathies online after the news was confirmed by the Stick Run team on social media this week.

Local German outlets confirmed that the body of a 30-year-old man was found in an attic room at a property in Breitbrunn am Chiemsee, Bavaria, according to Dexerto. Emergency services arrived at the scene on Tuesday evening after a fire broke out at the property. The blaze was noticed by a neighbor who reportedly attempted to put it out, but by the time help had arrived, the person inside the house was already dead.

While the individual who died has not yet been identified by the authorities, the age, location, and timing of the incident corresponded with the timing of Otto’s death.

A livestream that appeared to show the game developer and streamer taking his own life also lined up with the timing of the fire. In the stream, which has since been removed by Twitch, Otto allegedly set himself on fire inside his own apartment.

The Stick Run team confirms Manuel Otto’s death

On October 20, the Stick Run posted that the team were “aware of a livestream on Twitch involving its creator and owner, Manuel Otto, in which he appeared to have taken his own life.”

In a statement posted to Facebook the next day, the official Stick Run account confirmed the passing of its creator and celebrated the game he had created and focused on Otto’s legacy rather than giving details about the nature of his death.

“Stick Run was more than just a game,” the statement reads, “For so many of us, it was a part of our childhood. A game we grew up playing with friends, sharing laughs, competing for high scores, and making memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. It brought people together and became a cherished part of our childhood.” The team’s statement continues.

Manuel Otto created and released Stick Run on Facebook for free when he was just 14. The web browser game went on to be a massive hit, with it being a defining part of many whose childhoods were spent on the internet. Those who grew up on the game left touching messages and expressed their sorrow at Otto’s passing. 

“I remember being a freakin’ child dude. Playing on my great grandmama’s ol windows computer and booting up this account here back in 2013.” One Facebook user wrote, adding, “Today I found out, over a decade later. That the beautiful creator of this game & universe, has passed.”