Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto, the German developer who built the endless-runner game Stick Run as a 14-year-old in 2010, died at age 30 on October 20 during a Twitch livestream. The Stick Run team confirmed his death the following day after first acknowledging the broadcast in which he appeared to have taken his own life.
Otto released the free-to-play title on Facebook that August after roughly four months of work. Players control a stick-figure character jumping and sliding through obstacles while collecting points and coins, with multiplayer modes that let friends compete for high scores. The game became one of the biggest Facebook titles of its era, later ported to mobile, and reports put its total players above 40 million. He and his father formed a company around it and protected the name and logo. For many who grew up with early social games, Stick Run sat alongside titles like FarmVille as a shared memory of after-school sessions and rivalry over leaderboards.
On the evening of October 20, Otto was streaming on Twitch from his home in Breitbrunn am Chiemsee, Bavaria. The official Stick Run account posted that it was aware of the livestream involving its creator and owner and that he appeared to have taken his own life. The post noted that Twitch had removed the channel and the associated video, expressed deep concern, asked the community to respect privacy and avoid unverified speculation, and invited anyone with information to contact the team or local police. Twitch said it acted quickly to take the content down so others would not view it, adding that the mental health of its community matters and pointing users toward local resources.
Local German outlets including PNP and OVB reported a fatal fire that same evening in an attic room at the property. A neighbor spotted the blaze and tried to put it out, but the 30-year-old occupant was already dead when emergency services arrived. The age, location, and timing line up with the details released by Stick Run. Authorities have not publicly released extensive further identification or cause information in available reporting.
On October 21 the Stick Run team issued its confirmation: “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm and announce the passing of our creator, developer, and fellow Stick Runner, Marc-Manuel Alexander Otto.” The statement described the game as more than a game for many players. “For so many of us, it was a part of our childhood. A game we grew up playing with friends, sharing laughs, competing for high scores, and making memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. It brought people together and became a cherished part of our childhood.” It continued that the community mourns both the creator and a fellow player whose work became part of their lives, that his legacy will live on through every memory, every run, and every player who grew up with it, and that the team’s condolences go to his family, friends, and everyone he touched. “Thank you, Manuel, for being a part of our childhood. You will never be forgotten.”
Online discussion has included claims about earlier health issues and details of the livestream itself. Those accounts have not been independently verified by authorities or the Stick Run team. Major coverage has stayed with the official statements and the matching local fire report. The Facebook page for the game still holds millions of followers, and the death announcement drew rapid responses from players sharing old high-score screenshots and stories of the simple stick figure that once filled their afternoons.
Otto’s full name appears in the team’s statement and in German reporting. He was born in 1996. The game remains available, and the team has asked for privacy while the circumstances continue to be clarified.
If you or someone you know is struggling, resources include the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States or the Samaritans at 116 123 in the UK.
