Ninja may be going to YouTube

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A now-deleted test stream might have given it away.

Ninja
(Image credit: Ryan Hadji/Red Bull Content Pool)

A YouTube test stream suggests that Tyler "Ninja" Blevins may have found his new home.

Last year, Microsoft promised the exceedingly popular Fortnite (and lately Valorant) streamer a pile of cash to move his channel from Twitch to Mixer, which he accepted. But Microsoft has now called it quits on Mixer, announcing last month that it's shutting the whole thing down. That will soon leave Ninja in need of a new channel.

One possible move would be a return to Twitch, where Ninja had millions of followers before he signed with Mixer. However, a now-deleted test stream was spotted on Ninja's YouTube channel today, suggesting that it may be his destination.

Jessica Blevins, Ninja's wife and manager, tweeted yesterday that this week "will be fun," suggesting that an announcement is imminent.

YouTube is currently the exclusive streaming home of PewDiePie , as well as Activision-Blizzard esports like Overwatch League. The Google-owned video giant may be looking to gain a stronger foothold in the business following the closure of a competitor. Despite pushes into game streaming by YouTube and other powerful companies, Twitch remains the internet's default choice. Mixer is shutting down, Microsoft says, because it just couldn't attract enough viewers. 

Mixer will be gone after July 23, and Microsoft is working with Facebook Gaming to offer partnered streamers comparable deals on Facebook. Even if he doesn't go to YouTube in the end, it seems unlikely that Ninja will accept that deal.

Consider these details uncertain for now, as there's been no official announcement.

Thanks, PCGamesN.

Tyler Wilde
Tyler Wilde
Editor-in-Chief, US

Tyler grew up in Silicon Valley during the '80s and '90s, playing games like Zork and Arkanoid on early PCs. He was later captivated by Myst, SimCity, Civilization, Command & Conquer, all the shooters they call "boomer shooters" now, and PS1 classic Bushido Blade (that's right: he had Bleem!). Tyler joined PC Gamer in 2011, and today he's focused on the site's news coverage. His hobbies include amateur boxing and adding to his 1,200-plus hours in Rocket League.