Stick Run Creator Manuel Otto Dies After Livestream Incident in Bavaria

Manuel Otto, the German developer behind the widely played browser game Stick Run, has died at age 30 following an incident that occurred during a Twitch livestream this week in Bavaria, Germany.

Otto, whose full name was Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto, was broadcasting live when he took his own life, according to reporting by the New York Post. His body was discovered after a fire broke out at a property in Bavaria, local outlet PNP reported. A neighbor noticed the blaze and attempted to extinguish it before emergency responders arrived.

Twitch has removed the livestream and the archived video from its platform. A Twitch spokesperson said in a statement: “What took place is horrible, and the mental health and wellbeing of our community matters deeply to us.” The company said it “moved quickly to remove the channel and Video on Demand to prevent it from being viewed by others,” and added that it “encourage[s] anyone who may be struggling to seek support,” noting Twitch offers tools to connect users with local mental health resources.

Otto created Stick Run at age 14 and released it as a free-to-play title on Facebook in 2010. The game has since been played by more than 43 million people worldwide across desktop and mobile platforms, according to Dexerto.

Official Statements From Stick Run

The official Stick Run account on X posted a statement on Monday acknowledging the incident: “Stick Run is aware of a livestream on Twitch involving its creator and owner, Manuel Otto, in which he appeared to have taken his own life. We understand that Twitch has since removed the livestream and associated video.”

“We encourage the community to refrain from spreading unverified information or speculation,” the statement continued, asking anyone with relevant information to “reach out to us or contact your local law enforcement agency.”

A follow-up statement posted Tuesday confirmed Otto’s death. “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm and announce the passing of our creator, developer, and fellow Stick Runner, Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto,” the account wrote.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text in the United States. In Germany, the Telefonseelsorge offers free, confidential support at 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222.