Twitch titan Félix "xQc" Lengyel has inked a mammoth multi-year contract with Kick, a budding competitor to the streaming goliath.
The former professional Overwatch player, known for his dynamic, controversy-laden streams, and nicknamed the "child of Twitch," is set to make a leap that signifies an emerging tide of creators seeking greener pastures.
According to The New York Times, the initial contract's value is a staggering $70 million over two years, with incentives that could ratchet that figure up to a cool $100 million. In terms of annual payouts in sports entertainment, xQc's deal surpasses that of many sporting superstars like the Phoenix Suns superstar, Kevin Durant, who's the third-highest-paid NBA player at an annual salary of just a little over $44.1 million. Ryan Morrison, xQc's agent, and CEO of the Evolved Talent Agency, isn't shy in heralding this agreement as "one of the top 25 talent deals of all time period, including sports."
The allure of Kick, the newcomer on the block, comes as it offers a more favorable revenue split with creators, taking a mere 5% from its streamers' subscription revenue compared to Twitch's 50% cut. Furthermore, the upstart platform, backed by gambling entities, comes with laxer regulations on gambling-related content, something that Twitch has taken a more stringent stance on. While Kick's connection to a crypto-casino raises eyebrows, this could provide xQc an arena to pursue his self-professed love for gambling.
