Ninja's Move to Mixer Sends App to Top of App Store Charts
Microsoft's Mixer platform jumps to the number one spot on the App Store's free charts shortly after top streamer Ninja announces his departure from Twitch. The massive shift highlights the immediate impact of a single creator on platform growth.
Top streamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins shakes up the gaming world by leaving Twitch for Microsoft's Mixer platform, causing an immediate surge in the app's popularity. Within less than 24 hours of the announcement, Mixer shoots to the very top of the App Store's free app charts. Ninja's new Mixer channel quickly accumulates over 250,000 followers as fans rush to follow their favorite creator to his new home.
Microsoft acquires Mixer, originally known as Beam, back in 2016 and struggles to compete against industry giants like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. Before this high-profile move, Mixer accounts for a mere three percent of game streaming viewership hours. Microsoft expresses excitement about the partnership, noting that the platform focuses on providing a positive and welcoming environment for its community.
While Ninja does not explicitly detail his reasons for the switch in his announcement video, industry insiders suspect Microsoft pays a significant amount to secure the exclusive streaming deal. Despite the massive initial spike in app downloads and follower counts, Mixer still faces a steep uphill battle. The platform has a long way to go to match the 14 million followers Ninja previously held on Twitch.