The announcement came after the game’s official account acknowledged a disturbing Twitch livestream involving Otto. The team said he appeared to have taken his own life during the broadcast and urged people not to spread rumors or unverified information about what happened. Twitch later confirmed that it removed both the livestream and Otto’s channel.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death have not been fully established publicly.

What is certain is the enormous impact Otto had on online gaming at an unusually young age.

He was just 14 when he created *Stick Run*, which first launched in 2010 and became a major hit with players around the world.

The concept was simple.

Players controlled a stick figure racing through obstacle courses while trying to avoid hazards and continue running for as long as possible.

But the game’s straightforward design, competitive nature, and multiplayer elements helped it become deeply addictive for a generation of players.

For many people who discovered it during their childhood or teenage years, *Stick Run* became much more than something they played occasionally.

It became part of growing up online.

Friends competed against each other.

Players chased higher scores.

Communities formed around the game.

And Otto, still only a teenager himself when it became successful, found himself responsible for something that reached millions.

In its tribute, the *Stick Run* team reflected on exactly that impact.

They described the game as part of the childhood memories of countless players who spent years competing, laughing with friends, and trying to beat one another’s scores.

The team said Otto’s legacy would continue through those memories and through every player who had grown up with the game.

Their message also offered condolences to Otto’s family, friends, and everyone whose life he had touched.

Fans quickly began sharing their own tributes online.

Many remembered discovering *Stick Run* years earlier and spoke about how much time they had spent playing it with friends.

Others expressed disbelief that the person behind such a familiar part of their childhood was gone.

Otto later became known beyond game development as an online personality and Twitch streamer, regularly broadcasting to followers.

That connection with an online audience made news of his death particularly shocking for people who had continued following him long after first discovering his game.

Twitch said it acted quickly after the livestream incident to remove the channel and video so the material could not continue being viewed on its platform.

The company described what happened as deeply distressing and emphasized the importance of mental health and access to support for members of its community.

Meanwhile, the *Stick Run* team has specifically asked people to respect the privacy of everyone affected and to avoid circulating speculation about Otto’s final moments.

That request is especially important as clips, screenshots, and unverified claims can spread rapidly after tragedies involving livestreams.

For those who remember *Stick Run*, however, Otto’s life will likely be remembered for far more than the circumstances surrounding his death.

He was a teenager who built a deceptively simple game that became an international phenomenon.

What began as a stick figure running through obstacles grew into something millions of people associated with friendship, competition, and childhood memories.

More than 15 years later, players are still talking about it.

And as tributes continue to appear across social media, one message has been repeated again and again:

Manuel Otto created something people never forgot.

For the generation that grew up playing *Stick Run*, every obstacle course, every high score, and every memory of competing with friends now carries a little more meaning.

His game became part of their childhood.

And that is the legacy many of his fans are choosing to remember.