Manuel Otto, a German influencer and the creator of the browser game Stick Run, has died at the age of 30 in an apparent suicide during a Twitch livestream. A spokesperson for the game confirmed his death on Wednesday, 21 October, and said the company was aware of a livestream in which he appeared to have taken his own life.
His body was found after a fire at a property in Bavaria, in southeast Germany. According to a report in People, a neighbour noticed the blaze and tried to extinguish it.
A statement shared on Facebook said: "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." It added: "Today, we mourn not only the loss of our creator, but also a fellow Stick Runner whose work became a part of our lives. His legacy will live on through every memory, every run, and every player who grew up playing Stick Run."
Twitch said it had quickly removed Otto’s channel and any video of his death. A spokesperson said: "What took place is horrible, and the mental health and wellbeing of our community matters deeply to us." The spokesperson encouraged anyone who may be struggling to seek support and said Twitch offers tools to help people connect with local mental health resources.