OTK and Kick Announce Exclusive Livestreaming Partnership
In a significant move in the esports and streaming industry, OTK, a prominent esports and content organization, has announced a new partnership with Kick, a popular livestreaming platform. The deal, as reported by Sports Illustrated, will see Kick and OTK collaborate to create a series of livestreamed events as part of Kick’s new production initiative, Kick Studios.
The first event of the partnership is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 13, where OTK will host a livestream celebrating its collaboration with Kick, live from Austin, Texas, the organization’s headquarters. The stream will be broadcast exclusively on Kick and will feature multiple popular streamers, including Asmongold, who recently began streaming on Kick, although not exclusively. Other OTK-affiliated streamers confirmed for the event include ExtraEmily, Cyr, Sodapoppin, and Esfand.
This partnership comes after one of OTK’s most famous former members, Asmongold, began streaming on Kick. Asmongold was one of the founding members of OTK but exited the organization last year following controversy surrounding his statements about the conflict in Gaza. The organization has also seen the departure of popular host and content creator Will Neff in recent weeks.
According to Sports Illustrated, details regarding future events are limited, but the release stated that streams will "roll out over the next year" and include a revamped version of OTK’s Game Day tournament. This event-focused collaboration between OTK and Kick is unique in the streaming space, as exclusive deals with popular streamers have become rare.
"In livestreaming, authenticity is king," said OTK CEO Tips Out in a release, as quoted by Sports Illustrated. "When KICK explained the vision behind their new studio project, we knew this opportunity was precisely what we had been looking for; an audience-first partner willing to just let OTK be OTK, hair down and all. We’re excited to elevate our streamers in an unprecedented way and deliver on OTK’s founding vision: to create the greatest livestreamed content in the world."
The announcement has received mixed reactions from fans, with some excited about the potential for a reunion with Asmongold and the old guard of OTK, while others have expressed concern about the decision. Many of Kick’s most popular streamers have previously streamed on Twitch before being banned for controversial statements or actions. Asmongold himself received a two-week ban for statements that led to his departure from OTK last year.
Some fans have already begun speculating that the Kick deal may have been a reason for Will Neff’s departure from the organization. However, OTK has not yet released its own announcement, and none of the creators involved have spoken about the potential backlash to the deal from portions of their fanbase.
Fans can tune in to the first exclusive event on June 13 at 8pm ET on kick.com/otk. As more information becomes available, updates will be provided on this developing story.
The partnership between OTK and Kick marks a significant move in the esports and streaming industry, with both parties looking to create high-quality, engaging content for their audiences. As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, this collaboration will be one to watch in the coming months.
For now, fans are eagerly anticipating the first event on June 13, which promises to be an exciting and entertaining livestream. With a range of popular streamers involved, including Asmongold, ExtraEmily, Cyr, Sodapoppin, and Esfand, it’s set to be a must-watch event for fans of OTK and Kick.
