Draft:Wildlands (streamer)

Wildlands
Personal information
Born	Nicholas Leo Mullen (1991-03-01) March 1, 1991 Florida, USA
Nationality	American
Occupation	Streamer
Twitch information
Channel	Wildlands
Years active	2013–present (full-time until 2022; part-time afterward)
Followers	83,700
Last updated: November 4, 2024

Wildlands (Streamer)

Nicholas Mullen (known by his online alias Wildlands) is an American streamer and content creator recognized for his gameplay videos, live-streamed discussions on Twitch, and a broad focus on topics such as cannabis, philosophy, history, theology, politics, and medicine. Wildlands frequently features games like World of Warcraft, Grand Theft Auto V, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Fortnite in his content.

Early Life

Nicholas Mullen was born in Florida and raised in a Catholic household. His grandmother introduced him to gaming, sparking an early passion for technology. Academically inclined, Mullen excelled in school and purchased his first computer at age 13 by mowing lawns. After facing homelessness in late adolescence, he relocated to Seattle in 2012, where he worked repairing computers—a move that led to his streaming career in 2013.

Career

Beginnings and Early Success

Wildlands began streaming on Twitch in 2013, initially building an audience through games like World of Warcraft, where he became well-known for his open-world Player vs. Player (PvP) achievements as a Balance Druid during the Mists of Pandaria expansion. He reportedly held one of the highest numbers of PvP kills over multiple seasons, despite playing a class that was considered mid-tier at the time. Wildlands’ early Twitch presence was further bolstered by his engaging personality and unique style, mixing gameplay with discussions on philosophical and political topics.

Super Smash Bros. Melee and GTA V Community Impact

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Wildlands primarily plays as Samus and has had the opportunity to play with professional players like SFAT, MikeHaze, Pewpewu, S2J, Mang0, Westballz, Silent Wolf, Amsa, Mew2King, and Wes. Additionally, he made an impact within the Grand Theft Auto V community in October 2015, when he organized a boycott in response to Rockstar Games’ silent removal of a driving technique known as “double-clutching.” Rallying players online to raise awareness, Wildlands’ efforts contributed to Rockstar reimplementing the feature in December 2015, this time with official acknowledgment and a note thanking the racing community for their feedback.

Controversies and Bans on Twitch

Wildlands' streaming career was marked by multiple suspensions from Twitch related to cannabis use. In 2013, shortly after cannabis was legalized in Washington state, Wildlands’ channel was banned for using cannabis on stream. Twitch’s policy prohibited illegal activities, but it had no clear stance on state-legalized substances. Wildlands successfully appealed the ban by highlighting that Twitch’s alcohol policy allowed streamers to follow local laws. Twitch subsequently overturned the ban, affirming that cannabis use was permitted on his channel under state law.

Despite this ruling, Wildlands was banned a second time for cannabis use, which was again overturned upon reference to the initial ruling. Twitch staff assured him that these bans would not impact his channel’s growth or partnerships. However, after a third ban, Twitch issued an indefinite suspension due to accumulated bans. This move contradicted previous statements from Twitch staff, who had said that prior bans would not be held against him.

When the third ban was eventually overturned, Wildlands’ account was left with significant issues: all the channels he followed were reset, and many of his followers were automatically unfollowed or experienced notification problems. These issues greatly hurt his account’s growth and engagement. Although Twitch later acknowledged the technical issues, they have yet to provide a solution, leaving Wildlands’ account in a compromised state.

Hiatus and Part-Time Streaming

After becoming a full-time streamer in 2014, Wildlands took a hiatus following the passing of his dog, Dash, in early 2022—a significant event that marked a break in his streaming career until his return in late 2023. Since then, he has remained active as a part-time streamer, sharing his life with a new dog named Marley and a cat named Yoshi, who has Feline Leukemia Virus. Wildlands also frequently speaks on stream about his personal interests, including his past work in kitchens and dog training, and his hobbies, such as hiking, cycling, bouldering, skating, and tennis.

Influence and Impact

Wildlands’ influence extends beyond gaming content, with his channel serving as a platform for deeper conversations on cannabis, philosophy, and theology. His advocacy for the GTA V community and in-game achievements in World of Warcraft and Super Smash Bros. Melee have cemented his place in the gaming community.

Personal Life

Mullen shares insights from his personal life on stream, discussing his past work experiences and outdoor hobbies. Known for his close connection with his pets, Wildlands' previous dog, Dash, was a prominent part of his streams until Dash’s passing in 2022. Now, Marley and Yoshi often appear on his channel, maintaining his reputation for a personable, connected streaming style.