German Influencer and Video Game Creator Manuel Otto Dies After Allegedly Setting Himself on Fire During Livestream

German blogger and video game developer Manuel Otto, who created the popular multiplayer game Stick Run, has died at the age of 30. According to media reports, the tragedy occurred during a livestream on Twitch.

According to the New York Post, citing German outlet PNP, a fire broke out at a house in Bavaria, southeastern Germany, on Tuesday evening. A neighbor noticed the blaze and attempted to extinguish it. Otto’s body was later found at the scene.

Reports circulating on social media suggest that the developer may have died by suicide during the livestream. However, the official circumstances of his death have not yet been established.

The Stick Run team confirmed the tragic news in a post on X. Representatives said they were aware of a Twitch livestream during which the game’s creator allegedly died. According to the team, the platform removed the broadcast and related video recordings.

“We urge the community not to spread unverified information or engage in speculation,” the team said in a statement.

The Stick Run team later issued another statement confirming the death of the game’s creator, developer and community member, Mark-Manuel Alexander Otto.

A Twitch spokesperson also said the platform had promptly removed Otto’s channel and footage of the incident to prevent it from spreading further.

“What happened is horrific. The mental health and well-being of our community are extremely important to us,” the company said, urging anyone going through a difficult time to seek support.

Otto created Stick Run in 2010, when he was just 14 years old. Originally released on Facebook, the free-to-play game became a major hit. According to Dexerto, it has been played by more than 43 million people worldwide on computers and mobile devices.

The circumstances surrounding the developer’s death remain under investigation.