The German content creator Unge has undergone a surprising transformation. After a longer break on YouTube, he announced his decision in May 2023 to perform as “Raik” on Twitch. MeinMMO tells you what he is doing now and how he feels about it.
Who is Unge? Unge, whose red curly hair and infectious laugh have made him unmistakable, is considered one of the pioneers of the German YouTube scene.
Since 2012 he has published Let’s Plays and later also vlogs and other content on his channel. His videos are characterized by his unique playing style and authentic personality.
Even though his channels have been inactive for months, he has 3.73 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.5 million followers on Twitch. You can find an article about his career here.
Here you can learn more about Unge:
Why has it been so quiet around Unge? In May 2023, the streamer announced that he is leaving his identity as “Unge“ behind him and will instead create English-language content as a Vtuber under the name “Raik“.
Instead of showing his face on camera, he now displays an anime avatar that reflects his facial expressions and gestures. This change was not only a surprise due to the choice of language, but also concerning the reasons that Unge provided for this decision.
Unge speaks openly about mental illnesses
Why did he want to make this switch? Unge spoke in one of his YouTube videos about his social phobia and depression, for which he is seeking professional help. The pressure of showing his face to thousands of viewers became unbearable for him.
In his honest statement, Unge emphasized that it represents an immense effort for him every time to stand in front of the camera and expose himself to the feeling of being judged, condemned, and evaluated by thousands of viewers.
In an attempt to combat his social phobia, the streamer undertook a remarkable 55-day streaming marathon, which even allowed viewers to watch him while he slept.
In addition to the mental health issues, Unge has struggled with stalking in the past, which led him to often feel like being in a “glass house” after years in the public eye.
In an effort to regain his privacy, he has now decided to take this important step.
“I had to make a decision: money or freedom”
How does Raik feel about this decision? The streamer repeatedly emphasizes how happy he is with his new identity, even if this comes with financial losses. He feels more comfortable and energetic.
In an update video on YouTube, he also explains that he had to choose between money or freedom. He chose freedom because he is happy with what he has. He himself says: “Why more money when I would have to give up freedoms for it?”.
In his streams and social media, he regularly shares insights into his life without showing his face. Thus, he occasionally takes his viewers on Instagram when he works out in his home gym.
He is also very active on Twitch under his new name. According to Twitchtracker, he is on the air 6 out of 7 days a week, averaging a proud 10.5 hours per stream.
Notably, his streams usually start at 11:00 PM German time – a fact that fits his internationally oriented audience. Raik is notable not only for his gaming skills but also for his willingness to interact with English-speaking players and thus improve his language skills.
Having spent over 1000 hours on his new Twitch channel alone in World of Warcraft, he often faces new challenges together with international players. This language switch has also attracted many international viewers.
Although he does not have the four-digit viewer numbers like the famous Unge channel, Raik can already boast a respectable average of 377 viewers – and that in a comparatively short time.
“I had facial surgeries,” jokes the streamer
Will he show his face again? Recently, a TikTok video was released in which a new viewer asks Raik about a “face reveal“. The streamer explains that he has shown his face in the past and that this is no secret.
Nevertheless, he does not plan to reveal it again, as he wants to protect his privacy. He makes jokes about alleged facial surgeries. He humorously states that he now has a “Thaddeus nose”, to confuse the curious.
In the comments on this TikTok video, there is a variety of reactions, ranging from surprise to support to nostalgic melancholy. Despite these reactions, Raik is determined to continue his new path as an English-speaking Vtuber and to maintain his privacy.
You can find another article about V-Tubing here: Giant Twitch star explains: VTubing is “like a hack for female streamers”
