There is very little doubt that Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is one of the most popular streamers ever. Although he started his professional gaming career on Halo 3, the streamer’s rise to fame came alongside the prominence ofFortnite. Not only is he a hugely successful streamer, but Ninja also believes that he could be one of the bestFortniteplayers in the world if he put the effort into it.
Fortnite’s other-worldly and rapid rise came in 2018, the same yearNinja became the most-watched streamer on Twitch. His skill atFortniteis undeniable. And that, along with his rambunctious personality, helped propel him to heights not seen before for streamers, probably opening doors for future individuals who call it their profession as well.
RELATED:Ninja Explains How Fortnite Can Get Its Popularity Back
Ninja became an icon in the game and seemed to transcend the medium,breaking streaming records while playing with celebrities like Drake, Travis Scott, and JuJu Smith-Schuester. All the while Ninja seemed to back off of competitiveFortniteand lean more towards entertainment entirely, which is undoubtedly understandable under such success. But in a recent “Zapped with Bob Menery” podcast, Ninja claimed that he’d be one of the top players in the world if he tried.
Ninja was quick to admit that he couldn’t compete today if he needed to, saying that he hasn’t playedFortnitein a couple of weeks. But he clearly believes that if he put the practice and effort into it, he’d be a top player. In 2018,Ninja told fans that he wouldn’t compete anymore, claiming that he put too much effort in the past into competitive gaming. He doesn’t seem to want to take time away from his other indevours, and wouldn’t want to travel for tournaments.
I think I could easily be a top 50 player if I’m playing, practicing, grinding in Creative.
Last year’sFortniteWorld Cup was won by Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, and Ninja worked the competition in an analyst/casting role. Some fans have taken exception to Ninja’s claim that he is capable of being in those same tournaments if he tried. The majority of players in the top 50 rankings ofFortnitecompetitions are young, under 20 even, perhaps partially thanks to the younger audience having the time to put in the effort. Ninja at 28, and with so much streaming success, doesn’t seem to want to prove his claim that he’d be a top-tier competitor.
Ninja’s success has gone well beyond competitive gaming, as he became an iconicFortniteskin earlier this year, has hosted New Year’s Eve parties in Times Square, has scored deals with Adidas, and evenappeared on The Masked Singerlast year. Perhaps Ninja has eliteFortniteskills in him, but he seems beyond wanting to prove it.
Fortniteis available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
