Ninja Signs Exclusive Streaming Deal
Tyler "Ninja" Blevins was one of many streamers who suddenly found himself without a platform after Microsoft decided to shutter Mixer. Following months without regular appearances, fans finally know where Ninja will stream from now on. As of today, Ninja has returned to Twitch full-time.
While rumors have swirled for a while, this is the first time Ninja has confirmed his intention to go back to his original streaming home. Ninja tweeted a brief clip announcing his return to Twitch, which showed his famous blue logo and a shot of him in his studio. He wrote, "A new chapter, only on @Twitch."
That wasn't the only bombshell Ninja had in store for fans. Not only has Ninja returned to Twitch, but his first official stream back on the platform will unfold today. Ninja tweeted his intention to stream at 2 PM CT on Thursday afternoon and promised to gift 100 subscriptions every thirty minutes until the stream went live.
Fans and fellow streamers seem to be over the moon to see Ninja back in action. TimTheTatman tweeted, "welcome back brother." Following several replies to his announcements, Ninja wrote, "What can I say, purple still suits me," referring to the color of the Twitch logo.
In an exclusive statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ninja shared, "I am excited to get back to streaming full-time and connecting with my loyal fanbase. I really took my time to decide which platform was best and Twitch has been very supportive throughout this process and understanding my overall career goals."
However, Ninja wanted to stress that things would be a little bit different going forward. He plans to put a special focus on helping to boost "underrepresented creators" in the industry. He concluded, "I am looking forward to working with Twitch to demonstrate how this amazing community of gamers can make a meaningful impact."
This official announcement finally puts to rest months of speculation regarding Ninja's plans for his streaming future. Rumors suggest Ninja and Shroud were both offered significant pay increases to move to Facebook Gaming, but both reportedly declined. Some reports stated the two walked away from nearly double their Mixer contracts so they could remain free agents instead of signing with Facebook.
In the months since Mixer went under, Ninja has made a few sporadic appearances, seemingly streaming whenever and wherever he liked. Due to a random stream in July, it appeared Ninja might move to YouTube Gaming. However, industry insider Rod "Slasher" Breslau reported Ninja did not have any kind of deal in place, and was instead streaming on YouTube "all on his own."
In August, Ninja freaked out fans when he logged into his Twitch account for the first time since his departure to Mixer. He told his followers that no contracts had been set in stone, but cryptically teased that something was in the works. Around this time, Ninja also revealed his new goal of actively pursuing gigs in other areas of entertainment, including acting roles and voiceover work. Now fans know that Ninja spent a good bit of his time away sorting out the best fit for his streaming brand.
Both of Ninja's return streams occurred with minimal forewarning for fans, yet they still managed to attract solid viewership numbers. Even though Ninja's latest return stream started with little buildup, he'll still likely attract a huge following right away. However, it should be noted that those streams failed to draw the number of viewers seen by Dr Disrespect when he made his streaming comeback. Maybe the fact that Ninja is giving away free subs to people who tune in early will help boost his ratings. Regardless, Ninja's return is sure to be quite an event. After all, Shroud nearly hit record-breaking numbers when he resumed broadcasting on Twitch.
As for Twitch, the company seems to be thrilled to have its star streamer back in the fold. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Twitch's Michael Aragon said, "Tyler is an iconic force in the gaming community, and it's been amazing to see the impact he's made on the industry and broader culture ... and we know he's just getting started."
Ninja and Twitch have refrained from discussing any financial figures regarding his new contract, but this will likely prove the best case scenario for many Ninja fans. It seems Mixer's closure was little more than a speed bump for the streamer's career, and you can expect to see a great deal more of Ninja and his various projects in the future.