Tyler “Ninja” Blevins recently opened up about his streaming journey. He’s faced a noticeable decline in his livestream viewers, and it’s tough to miss. Every day, he feels the impact of online critics highlighting his lower numbers.
In an interview with the BBC, Ninja reflected on his career highs and lows. While he’s known for his legendary plays in Epic Games’ Fortnite, he’s also tried games like Call of Duty and Marvel Rivals. His Fortnite success made him the first Twitch streamer to gather 10 million followers, even earning an in-game character modeled after himself.
Yet, the excitement of those days feels distant. “There was a time I was pulling in 100,000 viewers per stream consistently,” he said. “Now, I’m lucky if I get 7,000 or 8,000 combined on Twitch and YouTube, especially when Fortnite isn’t trending.”
Ninja believes that the dip in Fortnite’s popularity is part of how he ended up with fewer viewers. However, he maintains a strong following, with 19.2 million on Twitch and 23.7 million on YouTube. Still, the negativity from trolls can be overwhelming. “Every day, I get berated online. It’s tough,” he shared.
In 2019, Ninja briefly shifted to Microsoft’s Mixer before returning to Twitch the following year while also building his presence on YouTube. Though he’s thought about stepping back from streaming, he still feels a deep connection to the gaming community. “I love this. I’m a gamer and entertainer at heart,” he affirmed.
Recently, Ninja launched a 24-hour charity event called Gaming for Cause. This initiative aims to raise awareness about skin cancer, a cause close to his heart after his melanoma diagnosis in March 2024. “My wife and I were going to support this cause regardless, but the goal is to raise awareness,” he said, highlighting the importance of the campaign.
As of now, his livestream has already raised over $117,000 aimed toward a $250,000 goal. You can support this cause on both Twitch and YouTube.
With changes in the gaming landscape and his enduring community, Ninja’s story serves as a reminder that passion and resilience are key, even during tough times.
For more about Ninja’s journey, check out his interview on the BBC here and support the Gaming for Cause event here.
