EA has excluded Twitch streamer Tyler “Trainwreck” Niknam from a tournament at Apex Legends, apparently because Trainwreck engages in gambling on Twitch. Trainwreck accuses EA of being corrupt and hypocritical, claiming they would also profit from gambling in FIFA 22.
This is the situation:
- One of the biggest streamers on Twitch, NICKMERCS, has turned away from Call of Duty: Warzone and is now playing Apex Legends, the online shooter from EA.
- NICKMERCS is currently hosting a major $50,000 tournament in Apex Legends, which Twitch streamer Trainwreck was set to participate in. He is known for high stakes in online casinos and at crypto exchanges.
- However, EA has prohibited NICKMERCS from allowing Trainwreck to participate in the tournament. They do not want the streamer involved.
Why is EA banning the streamer from the tournament? As NICKMERCS says, his manager received a call from EA and Apex Legends stating that they do not want Trainwreck at the tournament. They did not provide further explanation.
NICKMERCS believes it is related to Trainwreck’s “gambling streams.” He doesn’t personally care, but in business matters, one has to distance oneself from people who go too far – and Trainwreck clearly goes too far.
Twitch streamer calls EA “hypocritical, corrupt bastards”
This is Trainwreck’s reaction: He is furious. On Twitter, he writes (via twitter):
“Hey EA, you corrupt bastards. The real gambling was when you paid me $150,000 for 4 hours in Apex Legends, a game that no one cares about when I play it. I will sponsor Nick’s tournament with double the money you do, you damn hypocritical FIFA pack gambling bastards.”
Trainwreck
What’s behind this: EA is accused of also engaging in a form of gambling with packs in FIFA FUT. Here, players pay money for randomly selected cards representing football players. It is a type of “loot box system.”
It is known that EA has generated a lot of money through games like FIFA 21 or APEX Legends.
Time and again, stories have circulated in the media that young players have invested substantial amounts in packs from the incredibly popular FIFA games. They behave like addicts.
Interestingly, Trainwreck mentions that EA had previously even paid him to play Apex Legends. It seems to insult his honor that EA now no longer wants him.
Trainwreck has previously made statements that seem slightly paranoid. He believes he is being harshly punished and attacked for things others do without any consequences. Obviously, he often has the feeling that “THEY” are after him.
EA once referred to loot boxes as “fairly ethical surprise mechanics” and compared them to Kinder Surprise eggs.
