Xbox Denies Kick Partnership: App Now Under 'Active Evaluation'

Microsoft has officially confirmed that Xbox does not have a strategic partnership with the live-streaming platform Kick, actively debunking viral rumors that suggested a major alliance was in the works. Despite the recent appearance of a Kick app on Xbox consoles and a suggestive social media campaign, an Xbox official clarified on Dec 18, 2025, that the application was merely "independently published" to the Microsoft Store. 

In a move that casts doubt on the app's long-term future on the console, the company warned that the software is now being "actively evaluated" under strict store policies. Microsoft emphasized that while its ecosystem is open to publishers, apps that do not comply with safety and content standards will be removed.

The speculation regarding a corporate deal reached a fever pitch earlier this week when Kick’s official X account posted an image of an Xbox console box branded with the Kick logo. The post, captioned "kick x Xbox" with a handshake emoji, implied a formal collaboration similar to the deep integrations Twitch and YouTube enjoy on the platform. 

The narrative was further amplified by one of Kick's ambassadors, Trainwreckstv, who commented, "Big moves," and coincided with popular streamer Mizkif leaving Twitch for Kick. While Xbox is known for collaborating with creators and IPs for custom hardware, the company moved quickly to dismantle this narrative, stating directly that "Xbox does not have a partnership with Kick" and that the app's presence was solely the result of an open publishing system that allows developers to release software without a direct deal.

Store Policies vs. Kick’s Controversial Reputation

This scrutiny from Microsoft appears to stem from Kick's controversial reputation and the specific branding used in the app's store description. Backed by the founders of the cryptocurrency casino Stake.com, Kick has aggressively recruited banned or disenchanted Twitch stars like xQc, Amouranth, and Adin Ross with lucrative contracts. 

The Xbox store description for the app reflects this aggressive stance, stating that their creators "disrupt our opps with a 95-5 subscription split" and mentioning the freedom to multi-stream. However, critics have long pointed out that Kick’s loose moderation and association with unregulated gambling streams clash significantly with the family-friendly brand image that Xbox strictly maintains.

For the moment, the app remains available for Xbox users to download, functioning solely as a hub for watching livestreams rather than broadcasting gameplay. However, its survival on the storefront is uncertain. While platform history suggests that Xbox rarely delists apps, typically only removing games due to licensing or technical issues, the platform has made it clear that no special treatment exists for Kick. 

Whether this becomes a rare instance of an app being deleted for violating platform policies remains to be seen, but Microsoft has firmly established that, despite the convincing merchandise and social media hype, there is no official relationship between the tech giant and the upstart streaming platform.