Renowned gaming figure Nick “Nickmercs” Kolcheff, who has exclusively livestreamed on Twitch for over a decade, has become the latest gaming sensation to migrate to the burgeoning platform, Kick, enticed by a substantial payday. Under a one-year contract estimated at a staggering $10 million, Nickmercs will primarily stream on Kick starting in late October, without exclusive obligations. This strategic move aligns with Kick’s trend of securing talent through lucrative contracts, exemplified by the recent signings of Twitch stars xQc and Amouranth, who inked deals worth $35 million and $7 million annually, respectively.
Kick has garnered industry attention since its inception in December, primarily due to its creator-friendly contracts and substantial financial offers. The platform enables content creators to retain a remarkable 95% of subscription revenues on their channels, and, notably, does not run ads during streams. Despite boasting 20 million registered users as of October, Kick’s average viewership of 140,000 still pales in comparison to Twitch’s substantial 2.4 million viewer average.
While Kick’s smaller audience and extravagant contracts have prompted speculation about its economic sustainability, founders Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani benefit from a robust cryptocurrency war chest generated by their other venture, Stake—a crypto-backed offshore casino that reported a staggering $2.6 billion in revenue in 2022. Additionally, some creators have been offered cryptocurrency as part of their compensation package.
Nickmercs, a Twitch stalwart since 2010, gained fame for his dynamic personality and aggressive gaming style. Joining FaZe Clan in 2019 as a co-owner, he faced the depreciation of his shares as the publicly traded company’s value declined. Last year, a significant policy shift by Twitch, reducing the subscription revenue share for top creators from 70% to 50%, prompted Nickmercs to explore alternative opportunities.
Over the past 12 months, Nickmercs has amassed an estimated $11.5 million from content creation and sponsorships, ranking him among the highest-paid gamers globally. In addition to the financial terms, Kick has committed to supporting live events hosted by Nickmercs, contributing to digital gaming tournament prize pools, and aiding in community-building efforts. Nickmercs eagerly anticipates contributing to Kick’s gaming community and making a significant impact on the platform.