Manuel Otto, German developer who created Stick Run, dies at 30

Manuel Otto, the German game developer who created the world-famous game Stick Run, has died. He was only 30.

According to the available information, he reportedly took his own life during a live broadcast on the streaming platform Twitch on the evening of October 21. Reports have also emerged of a fire at a property in Bavaria, in south-eastern Germany, after the incident. The matter has come as a major shock to the tech and gaming world.

Otto's full name was Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto. The official social media team of Stick Run confirmed his death. In a social media post, the team said: "We have lost not just the creator of our game, but an important pillar of the gaming community." The game Otto made has been linked with the childhood memories of millions of people and with digital culture.

It is said that Otto was streaming live on October 21 when the incident occurred. On learning of it, the platform's administration and digital safety team acted immediately. Twitch has removed the live video and Otto's official channel from the platform.

In an official response, a Twitch spokesperson said: "The mental health and safety of every member of our community is our top priority. This incident is heartbreaking. We have immediately removed the channel and the video so that it does not spread on digital media. We also appeal to those who are under mental stress to contact counselling and help centres at once."

Meanwhile, the Stick Run team has appealed to all gamers and social media users not to spread rumours or unverified information about the tragedy. The team said it is everyone's responsibility to respect the privacy and feelings of the late Otto's family and those close to him.

Otto was born in Germany in 1996. He had a strong passion for computers, animation and coding from childhood. In 2010, when he was just 14, he created Stick Run, a very simple but enjoyable multiplayer 2D runner game. At first it was available only to play on Facebook. Games such as FarmVille dominated at the time, yet Stick Run made a distinct name for itself in a short time.

In the game, players controlled a stick figure, crossed various obstacles, collected coins and competed with friends for the highest score. The real-time multiplayer feature connected users across the world. The game later became so popular that it was launched on Android and iOS after Facebook. According to figures, more than 43 million people, or 4.3 crore, have played the game so far.

In an old interview in 2013, Otto had said that his desire to design on the computer and turn his ideas into reality inspired him to make Stick Run. His success at such a young age became an inspiration for many young game developers.

Deep grief is being expressed in the gaming and tech world over Otto's sudden death. Many longtime players have paid tribute to him on social media, recalling their childhood memories. A debate has also begun once again at the international level over the mental health of content creators and developers working in the digital world, and the heavy pressure on them.