Streamers Break Their Silence On Mixer Shutdown

Gamers were shocked yesterday by the breaking news that Microsoft will be shutting down its Mixer platform. Though Mixer was once poised as a serious rival for Twitch, Microsoft's Phil Spencer revealed that the platform was running "pretty far behind" Twitch in viewership, and therefore revenue. In an unexpected move, Microsoft announced a partnership with Facebook Gaming and began working to move Mixer's audience and content creators in that direction.

At least one big name is already making the transition over to Facebook gaming. KingGothalion told viewers that he saw it as a way to continue the work he began with the Mixer platform, saying, "My mission hasn't changed."

However, not everyone seems to be on the same page in this regard. Easily the biggest name on the Mixer platform is Ninja. The streamer made waves last year when he announced his move from Twitch to Mixer, bringing with him a massive fan base and apparently securing a hefty paycheck in the process. 

Ninja told his followers on Twitter that he was figuring out what to do with the new shift in platforms. He tweeted, "I love my community and what we built together on Mixer. I have some decisions to make and will be thinking about you all as I make them."

According to a tweet from Ninja's wife and manager, Jessica Blevins, the pair spent a good bit of time following yesterday's announcement by spreading some love to fellow Mixer streamers. This can apparently be seen in a video of Ninja donating $500 to streamer VinnyB, who becomes emotional at the contribution.

For his own part, Ninja has been uncharacteristically tight-lipped about his next moves after receiving the news of Mixer's closure. It's likely that he's still figuring it out, as it seems the closure came as a surprise to many streamers on the platform. It's easy to believe that, considering Ninja just recently launched a new series through Mixer, Ninja Battles featuring Fortnite.

Shroud also appeared to be among those who were caught off-guard by Mixer's closure. Shroud was another one of the biggest names to make the leap from Twitch to Mixer. On a fairly recent stream, Shroud explained that he felt that Mixer would be more more successful against Twitch in the long run.

Now, he's echoing Ninja's sentiments of keeping viewers informed of where he'll go next. He tweeted, "I appreciate the Mixer community and everything I've been able to do on the platform. I love you guys and am figuring out my next steps."

Rumor has it that Ninja and Shroud were both offered double their original Mixer contracts to move to Facebook Gaming, and both turned it down. Instead, Mixer had to buy them out of their contracts, leaving them as "free agents" once again. If nothing else, this may show fans how unhappy both streamers are with how this whole deal has panned out. 

Unsurprisingly, one of the most high profile responses came from Dr Disrespect. The Doc has long been critical of Mixer as a platform. Part of Dr Disrespect's whole online persona is his abrasive nature and sarcastic sense of humor, so it's a no-brainer that he'd have plenty of jokes to make at Mixer's expense. Just a few months ago, he posted a humorous video comparing the production values of Twitch vs. Mixer, which Ninja seemed to get a kick out of.

However, it may come as a surprise to note that Dr Disrespect was particularly sensitive when it came to discussing the Mixer shutdown with his fans. After the news broke, a fan sent him a donation on stream and mentioned that they thought the news was hilarious and wanted his take on it.

Rather than dogpile on the situation, the Doc told his viewers that he didn't think it was a laughing matter, especially since a lot of people were losing their jobs or having to make some tough decisions about where to go next. 

The Doc wasn't alone in his feelings. Streamers were pretty much shocked across the board, with some some expressing their concern or surprise. Twitch partner iambrandon tweeted his condolences to the people affected by the change, writing, "I feel for them." Meanwhile, Tfue could could only muster up genuine shock over the whole thing, while TimTheTatman called the announcement "insane."

It definitely seems insane. Mixer's signing of folks like Ninja and Shroud was seen as a game changer for the platform. With change happening quickly for Mixer stars and viewers alike, it will be interesting to see what develops in the next few days.