Kick’s biggest change since launch

Kick is preparing for its most significant shift yet, with CEO Eddie Craven confirming that advertisements will be introduced to the platform at some point in the future. The move marks the beginning of the end for Kick’s long standing ad free viewing experience, one of the key reasons the streaming service has grown rapidly since launching in 2022.

Eddie says ads will be coming to Kick

“Kick will have ads at some point so enjoy the ad free experience while it lasts..no release date for ads at the moment but they’re gonna come..goal is to add ads that isn’t overtly intrusive”

pic.twitter.com/ZydDQwsthY

— yeet (@Awk20000) December 15, 2025

Speaking during recent livestreamed interviews and appearances on Kick Talks, Craven made it clear that while ads are not arriving immediately, they are inevitable. Viewers who prefer Kick over Twitch because streams are uninterrupted have been advised to enjoy the ad free experience while it lasts.

Why Kick is adding ads

According to Craven, Kick’s lack of ads has helped fuel its growth, especially among Spanish speaking audiences and viewers frustrated with frequent commercial breaks on rival platforms. However, that model has come at a cost.

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Craven openly admitted that Kick is currently losing money, saying the company “loses a little bit of money” by not running ads. While early backing from crypto gambling company Stake and several high profile exclusivity deals helped Kick gain attention, the platform now needs a more sustainable long term revenue strategy.

Advertising, Craven explained, will be a key backbone of Kick’s future monetisation plans, allowing the platform to support both its operations and its creators without relying on splashy one off contracts.

A promise to avoid intrusive ads

One of the biggest concerns for viewers is how ads will affect the viewing experience. Craven acknowledged that risk directly, stressing that Kick has no intention of overwhelming users with constant interruptions.

He reassured viewers that Kick will not “throw 1,000 ads at people” and hopes to design formats that are not overtly intrusive or disruptive. The goal, he said, is to protect the enjoyment of livestreams while still generating revenue.

Rather than traditional pre roll or mid stream ad breaks, Kick is exploring alternative approaches such as targeted sponsor integrations and creator driven advertising. This mirrors broader industry trends, with Twitch recently experimenting with muted picture in picture ads that have received relatively positive feedback.

What ads could mean for streamers

For creators, the introduction of ads could unlock new earning opportunities. Kick already offers one of the most generous revenue models in streaming, with a 95/5 revenue split and hourly pay that far exceeds Twitch’s standard 50/50 or 70/30 arrangements.

Advertising income could further strengthen Kick’s appeal, especially as it looks to retain top talent and attract new streamers. While Kick previously relied on expensive exclusivity deals for names like xQc and WestCOL, ads offer a more scalable way to support creator earnings across the platform.

Kick vs Twitch, the bigger picture

Kick’s rise has intensified the ongoing streaming wars. Twitch, owned by Amazon, still dominates the market with an estimated 140 million monthly users, but stricter content rules and heavier ad loads have pushed some creators to explore alternatives.

Kick’s looser moderation policies, higher revenue share, and rapid growth have helped lure high profile streamers such as Adin Ross, Amouranth, Mizkif, and Trainwreckstv. As of mid 2025, Kick’s monthly active users reportedly grew by 150 percent year on year, highlighting just how quickly the platform is expanding.

Adding ads may narrow one of Kick’s biggest points of difference, but it also signals that the platform is aiming for long term stability rather than short term hype.

No timeline yet, but change is coming

Craven was clear that there is no fixed launch date for ads on Kick. For now, the platform remains largely ad free, aside from banner placements. Still, the message is clear, change is on the horizon.

Viewers and streamers alike will be watching closely to see how Kick handles the transition, and whether it can introduce ads without losing the relaxed viewing experience that helped it stand out in the first place.

The post Kick CEO Confirms Ads Are Coming, Ending the Platform’s Ad Free Era appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Unity and Epic Games have announced a major partnership that will bring Unity-built games directly into Fortnite, opening a huge new chapter for creators and the wider gaming industry.

Revealed during Unity’s annual Unite developer conference, the collaboration aims to push the future of open, interoperable gaming while giving developers more ways to publish, monetise, and grow their games across multiple platforms.

Unity 🤝 Epic Games

Epic and @Unity are working together to bring Unity games to Fortnite, and to bring Unity’s cross-platform commerce platform to Unreal Engine. Together with Unity, we’re working to advance the open, interoperable future of video games.

Check out more of the… pic.twitter.com/qLMVYejl3r

— Unreal Engine (@UnrealEngine) November 19, 2025

This agreement doesn’t just bridge two of the most widely used game engines in the world, it links them inside one of the biggest gaming ecosystems on the planet.

Unity Games Will Be Publishable Inside Fortnite

One of the biggest outcomes of this partnership is the ability for developers to bring Unity games into Fortnite. With more than 500 million registered Fortnite accounts worldwide, this gives Unity creators access to one of the largest gaming audiences ever.

Creators will also be able to take part in the Fortnite Creator Economy, earning a share of revenue as players engage with the experiences they build.

Unity says this is about giving developers more opportunity and choice. Matt Bromberg, Unity’s President and CEO, explained it simply: “Choice and open systems create growth for everyone in the gaming ecosystem.”

Unreal Engine Support Is Coming To Unity’s Commerce Platform

The partnership goes both ways. Epic Games confirmed that Unreal Engine support is coming to Unity’s cross-platform commerce tools, giving Unreal developers new ways to manage their business.

This includes features for digital catalogues, payment providers, web shops, pricing, promotions, and live operations across PC, mobile, and the web.

Support for Unreal Engine within Unity’s commerce platform is expected to roll out early next year, giving developers on both engines more flexibility than ever before.

A Step Toward an Open, Interoperable Future

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney framed the partnership as an important moment for building a more open metaverse.

“Just like the early days of the web, we believe that companies need to work together in order to build the open metaverse in a way that’s interoperable and fair,” Sweeney said. “Working alongside Unity we’re helping developers build fun games, reach bigger audiences, and find success.”

Unity and Epic say additional partnership details will be revealed in 2026.

Announced Live at Unite 2025

The news was revealed at Unite 2025, Unity’s annual developer conference, which brought over 1,500 developers together for technical sessions, networking, and hands-on learning.

The keynote was livestreamed, with recorded sessions heading to Unity’s official YouTube channel soon.

More Fortnite News: F1 Collaboration Arrives 20 November

Alongside the engine partnership announcement, Fortnite’s next big crossover is also on the way. The F1 Cosmetic Team Set launches on 20 November, bringing themed outfits, gliders, and pickaxes for all 10 Formula 1 teams ahead of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Items will be available through the in-game Item Shop using V-Bucks. Pricing has not been revealed yet.

A Huge Win for Developers, Players, and the Future of Gaming

By opening the door for Unity and Unreal creators to work across platforms and into Fortnite, this partnership sets the stage for a more connected, creator-driven gaming world. For developers, it means new audiences, new monetisation tools, and more freedom. For players, it means more games and more creativity inside Fortnite’s ever-growing ecosystem.

The future of game development just became a lot more collaborative.

The post Unity Games Are Coming To Fortnite After Landmark Epic Partnership appeared first on Shane the Gamer.