Streaming legend Jerma985 dropped some big news this week: He is retiring from Twitch as a content creator after seven years. Jerma’s announcement during his latest stream surprised his fan base, especially because his viewer numbers are still solid. However, he has only streamed 23 hours on Twitch in 2024.
In a heartfelt moment during his stream on Sunday, Jerma confirmed he’s stepping away from the limelight to focus on his new role as Chief Creative Officer at Offbrand, the media production company he co-founded with fellow streamer and Destiny nemesis Ludwig Ahgren. While his on-screen presence will be missed, Jerma assured fans he’ll continue pushing boundaries behind the scenes.
Jerma leaves behind a legacy as one of the most innovative streamers on Twitch. From his humble beginnings when he made TF2 videos on YouTube in 2017 to his groundbreaking “Dollhouse” and “Baseball Game” streams. His creativity and humor, paired with a highly engaged community, made him liked by almost every community on the platform.
As the news of his retirement spread in the past weeks, Jerma’s chat was filled with expressions of respect for the decision and his fans wished the 38-year-old well in his future endeavors. Many viewers clearly perceive Jerma as irreplaceable.
There are different speculations about Jerma’s reasons for retiring. Many believe his financial success has enabled him to step back comfortably. With an average viewership of over 19,000, it is safe to assume that he finds himself in a fairly stable financial situation. Fans also hoped for occasional special appearances, like a return for major gaming events like Elden Ring DLC launches.
Finally, Jerma explained he would occasionally stream whenever, but that fans should see him as retired. Although fans will sorely miss Jerma’s regular presence on Twitch, his impact on the platform remains. As one long-time fan reflected, “I have been watching him since I was a kid back in the TF2 days. I felt myself tearing up when he said he was just gonna retire.”
Jerma, we’ll miss you!
