Even when Kai Cenat isn’t lighting up Twitch with his trademark energy, the world of streaming can’t seem to stop talking about him. Since the end of his record-breaking Mafiathon 3 stream on September 30, 2025, Cenat has been conspicuously absent from the platform that made him a household name. Yet, his shadow looms large, with speculation about his next move swirling across social media, prediction markets, and even among fellow streamers.
The latest round of rumors exploded after a January 13, 2026, livestream by YourRAGE, a close friend and frequent collaborator of Cenat’s. While discussing betting markets on Twitch subscriber counts, YourRAGE didn’t mince words. “How many Twitch subscribers will Kai reach this year? Gang, how do I tell you, he retired from streaming. He’s not hitting none of this. He’s done. He’s a star now, he’s gonna be in movies and s***,” YourRAGE declared, as reported by Hindustan Times and Dexerto. The comment spread like wildfire, fueling a viral debate: Has Kai Cenat really retired from streaming?
To add fuel to the fire, Cenat himself dropped a 23-minute YouTube video titled “I Quit” that very same day. In the video, he opens with a moment of reflection. “I feel like sometimes, people need to self-reflect and take a step back from the broad perspective of what their life has been,” he told viewers. “I believe that there is more to the world than is much greater than myself. The energy and passion to want to do more and create is within me. That’s why I quit.”
Cenat’s words, though, weren’t a straightforward retirement announcement. Instead, he spoke at length about self-doubt and the desire to break free from being known for just one thing. “Thinking in my head of the goals I want to achieve and not achieving them because I’m only known for one thing,” he said, hinting at his ambitions beyond streaming. He continued, “I quit overthinking. I quit staying in my head about the goals I have and if I pursue them, whether they are going to work or not. I want to push limits to see what I can truly create in life.”
In the video, Cenat also sat down with his mother, opening up about his achievements and the toll they’ve taken. “I’ve achieved so much and I’ve been able to knock down goals I’ve always wanted to do, and my mindset in my head it’s a lot of self doubt. I’m not depressed, I’m not sad, I’m just having a lot of self-doubt.” That honesty struck a chord with many fans, especially as Cenat has been increasingly vocal about mental health and the pressures of online fame. As he shared on X, “I’m not sad, I’m not depressed, but I need to bring awareness to mental health after some of the feedback I’ve been seeing.”
So, is Kai Cenat truly done with streaming? The answer isn’t so simple. According to Dexerto, Cenat’s absence from Twitch hasn’t meant a total disappearance from the internet. In fact, he’s been quietly uploading content to a secret YouTube channel called “Kai’s Mind” since December 25, 2025. The channel features a mix of personal reflections, workout routines, reading lessons, and—perhaps most notably—videos of Cenat learning to sew and design clothing. None of these videos have garnered the massive views of his main channel, suggesting Cenat was seeking a more private space to grow and experiment.
Behind the scenes, Cenat has been pouring himself into a new passion: fashion. He spent much of the last quarter of 2025 in Italy, immersing himself in the world of design and garment production. The result? His own brand, Vivet—a name derived from the Latin for “will live.” “This is the first time I’ve had a passion for something besides content creation,” Cenat explained in one of his videos. “This is not me sticking my name on a brand and money-grabbing.” Instead, he’s eager to show fans the entire creative process, from initial sketches to finished products.
The Vivet brand isn’t just an idea; it’s already in motion. A trademark application was filed on October 17, 2025, and a website for the brand is live, offering fans the chance to join a waitlist for the first product: a journal packed with Cenat’s sketches and ideas, including both successes and failures. In a clever twist, the journal offers a behind-the-scenes look at Cenat’s journey from streamer to designer. The brand’s logo, ET3, is more than just a graphic—it’s a compass, an infinity symbol, and a cross all in one, reflecting Cenat’s desire to explore new directions and endless possibilities.
Yet, despite the flurry of activity in the fashion world, questions about Cenat’s streaming career remain unanswered. As Hindustan Times and Sportskeeda both note, there’s been no official statement from Cenat confirming his retirement from Twitch. His last major stream, the historic Mafiathon 3, shattered records and earned him the Guinness World Record for most subscribers ever on the platform. Since then, he’s made only occasional appearances on X and YouTube, leaving fans to wonder whether this hiatus is permanent or simply a well-deserved break.
Adding to the uncertainty is Cenat’s history of dramatic retirement announcements that later prove temporary. In 2024, he declared he was quitting all basketball-related activities—a move that was soon reversed. This pattern has left many fans skeptical of any claims about his departure from streaming, no matter how convincing the rumors may seem.
For now, Cenat’s silence on the matter has only amplified speculation. Some see his move into fashion and content creation as a natural evolution, a way to avoid burnout and explore new creative outlets. Others hope he’ll make a triumphant return to Twitch, reenergized and ready for new challenges. As one observer put it, “Maybe Cenat is simply taking a much-needed break. Maybe he has moved beyond Twitch. Or just maybe, even Kai Cenat doesn’t yet know what Kai Cenat’s next move is.”
Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: Kai Cenat remains a force in the world of online entertainment, whether he’s streaming to millions or quietly sewing denim in Italy. His willingness to share his struggles with self-doubt and mental health, coupled with his drive to reinvent himself, continues to resonate with fans worldwide. For now, the streaming world waits—and watches—wondering what Kai will do next.
