Popular YouTube streamer Ludwig has announced that, after spending a year designing in secret, he is releasing his own line of bidets. Streamers creating a side business is nothing new –Twitch streamer Amouranth just spent $8 million on a gas station and car wash– but Ludwig’s entry into the personal cleaning business is one of the most unexpected side projects yet.Ludwig Ahgren, who streams under the handle Ludwig, is an American streamer and content creator who originally came to fame streaming titles like Super Smash Bros. Melee and the Mario Party titles on Twitch. Ludwig left Twitch in 2021 to begin streaming under an exclusive contract with YouTube, though the change in platforms seems to have had little effect on his growing popularity. Having previously broken Ninja’s record for the most subscribers on a solo Twitch channel, Ludwig’s recent accomplishments include winning Streamer of the Year at The Streamer Awards.In an announcement on his Twitter account, Ludwig revealed that he has secretly been making his own bidet for the last year and will now be releasing it for sale. The bidet, released under the cheeky brand name Swipe, is claimed by Ludwig to be “the greatest bidet ever crafted by man” and is for sale now through the company’s website. If the new product line is successful, the profits could help the streamer repair some of the extensive damage allegedly caused to his home when a SWAT team raided Ludwig’s house after he and his family were the target of swatting by unknown parties.
Bidets became a familiar sight in many homes in recent years due to the shortages of toilet paper resulting from the global pandemic, but this entry into the personal hygiene product by a popular YouTube streamer and content creator is a highly unusual move. Responses to Ludwig’s announcement from Twitter users ranged from amusement, to confusion, to some users excitedly posting screenshots of their order confirmations. Ludwig’s Swipe line of bidets offers either a $50 add-on nozzle for existing toilets or a $500 full seat replacement option featuring a remote control and deodorizer for gamers seeking the ultimate in bathroom luxury.
Ludwig’s line of bidets may seem like an unusual business choice to pursue, but it serves as an example of the many creative ways streamers are seeking to ensure that they can still make a living when the time comes to put down the camera. As controversy continues to brew over Twitch’s new revenue split for streamers, which drastically reduces the potential profits for streamers at every level of success on the platform, it’s likely that Ludwig won’t be the last content creator to come up with an unexpected new way to keep the lights on.