Stick Run creator Manuel Otto dies at 30, team confirms
The Stick Run team confirmed Otto's death a day after he livestreamed an apparent suicide attempt on Twitch, which has not commented.
The Stick Run team confirmed on October 21, 2026 that the game's creator, Manuel Otto, has died at the age of 30. The confirmation came a day after Otto livestreamed an apparent suicide attempt on Twitch on October 20, according to Kotaku.
The team said in a post on X on October 20 that it was aware of the livestream, and confirmed his passing in a separate post the following day.
German outlets OVB Online and PNP reported that a 30-year-old was the only victim of an apartment fire in Breitbrunn am Chiemsee in Bavaria on October 20. According to fire and rescue services, the fire was reported by one of Otto's neighbors.
Video of the stream has been removed from Twitch. The platform has not issued an official statement.
From a 2010 Facebook game to Nekki ports
Stick Run was first released in 2010, when Otto was 14, and was published on Facebook. Its popularity led to several official mobile ports published by Nekki, and as of 2023 the game had reportedly amassed over 43 million players.
Quick answers
Who created Stick Run?
Manuel Otto, who first released the game in 2010 when he was 14.
How old was Manuel Otto?
He was 30.
When did the Stick Run team confirm his death?
In a post on X on October 21, 2026, a day after saying it was aware of his Twitch livestream.