German video game designer and influencer Manuel Otto apparently took his own life while doing a livestream on Twitch, according to the streaming platform and his colleagues. He was 30.
Otto was a 14-year-old high school student when he created his most famous game, Stick Run. The free Facebook game, later an app for Android and Apple, was played by tens of millions of people.
His body was found Tuesday after authorities responded to reports of a blaze in an attic room on a property in the Bavarian village of Breitbrunn am Chiemsee, German outlet Bild reported.
His death was later confirmed by his colleagues on social media.
“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 Stick Run Team posted Wednesday on Facebook. An earlier post from the Stick Run Team said Otto “appeared to take his own life” in a livestream.
Videos of the livestream later posted online appear to show Otto setting himself on fire.
Meanwhile, a Twitch spokesperson said in an emailed statement to NBC News that they “moved quickly to remove the channel and Video on Demand (VOD) to prevent it from being viewed by others.”
“What took place is horrible, and the mental health and wellbeing of our community matters deeply to us,” the spokesperson said. “We encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek support.”
Otto launched his signature game, in which players control a stick figure running through obstacle courses, in 2010 on Facebook.
Since then, Stick Run has been played by more than 43 million people worldwide, according to Dexerto, a digital media company that covers video games.
“Thank you, Manuel, for being a part of our childhood,” the Stick Run Team said in its post. “You will never be forgotten.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
