The Twitch streamer Chance “Sodapoppin” Morris had the opportunity in 2019 to switch to the Microsoft platform Mixer for a million-dollar deal. He turned down the offer – a decision that still keeps him awake at night, as he admitted recently.
Who is the streamer?
- Sodapoppin is a veteran on Twitch and has been on the platform since 2011, referring to himself as the “Twitch guy”.
- He currently has 8.8 million followers on Twitch, with an average of 20,000 viewers watching his streams.
- He started as a WoW streamer, but his content has since diversified: from Sex Dungeon in VR to burger joint in GTA , it’s all there.
- In theory, he can look back at a successful career, but there is one decision the streamer still regrets.
Soda has been on Twitch for ages and has witnessed many changes in the streaming platform. One of the most significant ones has been presented to you in the video:
Missed deal still haunts him years later
This is how the statement came about: In a joint stream with Nick “Nmplol” Polom, Soda was asked which missed opportunity he would not let slip away with his current knowledge. Sodapoppin’s response came quickly: “Mixer!”
Sodapoppin explained that he had been offered a lucrative deal from Mixer worth $10 million, which he turned down. Nmplol could hardly believe that someone would let such an opportunity slip and called Soda an idiot. He replied that he knows that himself.
This is what’s behind it: In 2019, Microsoft aimed to build a competitor to the streaming giant Twitch with Mixer. They dug deep into their pockets and poached some of the biggest Twitch stars.
Big streamers like Ninja and shroud made a lot of money with their Mixer deals, but for Microsoft, the plan did not work: Mixer failed, and the streamers simply returned to Twitch as if nothing had happened. Small Mixer streamers, however, were left behind.
Sodapoppin could have taken the money without having to face the consequences.
I could have signed, they would have gone bankrupt and closed down. They would have had to fulfill the contract and pay me what they owed. That would have been millions, and I would have just come back. I didn’t sign it. Morality!
Sodapoppin via Twitch
Since then, Sodapoppin seems to be haunted by the missed opportunity. The streamer said it keeps him awake at night. Just recently, he was upset about not having taken the chance back then.
This is what Soda would do differently today: Back then, Sodapoppin turned down the deal out of moral concerns. Today, it seems that his conscience no longer bothers him: He would sign the damn deal, leave, and take the damn money with him.
“If Soda leaves, then the ship Twitch sinks”
So why didn’t Soda sign then? Sodapoppin is known for his dry humor and sometimes mocks his own viewers. But turning his back on Twitch so easily, he probably couldn’t bring himself to do that.
He believes Mixer wanted him because he had been on the platform for so long, longer than anyone else:
I have this image attached to me; Soda is the original, he is the Twitch guy. He has been on Twitch longer than anyone else; if he leaves, that means the ship sinks, right? That’s a big responsibility.
Soda via Twitch
Clearly, Soda was worried that his departure could signal the end for Twitch.
What do you think? Is this delusion, or would Sodapoppin’s departure really have such an impact on Twitch? Feel free to leave us a comment with your opinion.
Similar to how Mixer tried back then, YouTube is now also trying to build a competitor to the streaming giant Twitch. In doing so, they are also acquiring some of the biggest streamers, but are going about it more tactfully. However, one of the biggest Twitch streamers believes that others are undervaluing themselves.
