{{Short description|Spanish YouTuber and Twitch streamer (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Family name hatnote|Doblas|Gundersen|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox streamer | name = El Rubius | image = El Rubius en el Festival de cinema de Sitges 2018 (recorte).jpg | caption = El Rubius in the 2018 Sitges Film Festival | birth_name = Rubén Doblas Gundersen | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|2|13}} | birth_place = Mijas, Andalusia, Spain | occupation = {{hlist|YouTuber|streamer|actor|businessman}} | partner = Irina Isasia (2016–present)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-09|title=Irina Isasia, la novia de Elrubius toma la palabra: "Siempre he querido proteger mi intimidad"|url=https://www.elmundo.es/loc/famosos/2018/05/09/5aec9080468aeb764a8b462f.html|website=ELMUNDO|language=es}}</ref> | signature = ElRubiusSignature.svg | website = {{URL|ElRubius.com}} | pseudonym = | youtube_handle = elrubiusOMG | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = 2006–present | youtube_genre = {{flatlist| * Gaming * comedy * vlog * Let's play }} | youtube_subscribers = 40.7 million | youtube_views = 8.25 billion | twitch_handle = Rubius | twitch_display_name = | twitch_years_active = | twitch_genre = | twitch_game = | twitch_followers = 16 million | stats_update = 29 November 2025 }} '''Rubén Doblas Gundersen''' ({{IPA|es|ruˈβen ˈdoβlas ˈɣundeɾsen|lang}};{{efn|In isolation, ''Doblas'' and ''Gundersen'' are pronounced {{IPA|es|ˈdoβlas|}} and {{IPA|es|ˈɡundeɾsen|}}, respectively.}} born 13 February 1990), better known as '''elrubiusOMG''' or simply '''El Rubius''' ({{IPA|es|el ˈruβjus|lang}}), is a Spanish YouTuber whose channel primarily consists of gameplays and vlogs. He has the most subscribers in Spain<ref>{{cite web |title=Los 10 canales de YouTube más seguidos de España |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/influencers/youtubers-seguidos-Espana_3_1254504539-1.html |website=Movistar eSports |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=es |date=27 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=El secreto detrás de Rubius: el YouTuber más grande de España |url=https://www.dexerto.es/entretenimiento/el-secreto-detr%C3%A1s-de-rubius-el-youtuber-m%C3%A1s-grande-de-espa%C3%B1a-772635/ |website=Dexerto |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=en |date=3 July 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228211226/https://www.dexerto.es/entretenimiento/el-secreto-detr%C3%A1s-de-rubius-el-youtuber-m%C3%A1s-grande-de-espa%C3%B1a-772635/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was among the top 50 most subscribed-to channels of the platform in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Los 100 canales de Youtube con más suscriptores (2021) |url=https://libretilla.com/canales-youtube-mas-suscriptores/ |website=Libretilla |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=es |date=1 November 2021}}</ref>
In 2014 he published ''El Libro Troll'' (English: ''The Troll Book''). During 2015 and 2017 he published a total of three comics from his Virtual Hero series. He was also part of an anime series based on the comics. A tweet from his official Twitter account in 2016 was once the most retweeted tweet in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/extra/20161207/tuit-mas-retuiteado-2016-rubius-5676083 |title=Un tuit de El Rubius, el más retuiteado del mundo este 2016 |newspaper=El Periodico de Catalunya |date=7 December 2015 |access-date=22 November 2016|language=es}}</ref>
In 2016, ''Time'' magazine included him in its list of "next generation leaders"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-10|title=La revista 'Time' incluye a 'El Rubius' en su lista de 'Líderes de la Próxima Generación'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.es/2016/10/10/rubius-time_n_12425152.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-31|website=El HuffPost|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011163254/http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2016/10/10/rubius-time_n_12425152.html |archive-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> and named him an "online conqueror".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-09|title=La revista 'Time' nombra a El Rubius como uno de los "líderes de la próxima generación"|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2858894/0/revista-time-nombra-rubius-lideres-proxima-generacion/|access-date=2021-12-31|website=20bits|language=es-ES}}</ref> In 2018, he achieved the world record for live viewers during an online YouTube broadcast for a tournament of the ''Fortnite'' video game. He is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch, with the fifth-most-followed Twitch channel in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=rubius's YouTube Stats Summary Profile |url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/rubius |website=Social Blade}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=rubius's Twitch Stats Summary Profile |url=https://socialblade.com/twitch/user/rubius |website=Social Blade}}</ref>
== Early life == Rubén Doblas Gundersen was born on 13 February 1990 in Mijas, Andalusia, Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-02-16|title=Así han cambiado los youtubers más famosos|url=https://www.que.es/2016/02/16/201602160802-cambiado-youtubers-famosos/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Qué!|language=es}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He is the son of a Norwegian mother named Bente and a Spanish father, with a younger sister called Liv on his mother's side and two brothers on his father's side.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2016-02-07|title=Elrubius: "Vivo a base de pedir comida por internet"|url=https://www.elmundo.es/papel/todologia/2016/02/07/56b48121e2704e97208b456c.html|access-date=2021-05-28|website=ELMUNDO|language=es}}</ref> When he was three years old, his parents divorced; he and his mother moved to Bergen, where she became a partner with another Spanish person named Héctor, to whom Rubius often refers as "The Godfather" in his videos. He moved back to Madrid because of this, where he went through primary and secondary school. His first console was an SNES, to which he admitted that it was essential to develop his love for video games and geek culture and that if it hadn't been for that he would never have reached where he was.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Befring|first=Åse Marit|date=2015-03-08|title=Norske Ruben blir nedrent av beundrere|url=https://www.nrk.no/urix/norske-ruben-blir-nedrent-av-beundrere-1.12247933|access-date=2021-05-28|website=NRK|language=nb-NO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|first5=|last6=|first6=|date=2021-01-19|title=Historia de El Rubius: cómo Rubén Doblas se transformó en ElRubiusOMG S.L.|url=https://marketing4ecommerce.net/historia-de-elrubius/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Marketing 4 Ecommerce - Tu revista de marketing online para e-commerce|language=es}}</ref>
In his high school stage, his parents separated again when aged 16.<ref>{{cite web|title=Así fueron los comienzos en YouTube de El Rubius, el creador de contenido pionero en España|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5131005/0/asi-fueron-los-comienzos-de-el-rubius-en-youtube-el-creador-de-contenido-pionero-en-espana/|access-date=17 February 2024|newspaper=20 Minutos|date=24 May 2023|last=Fernández|first=Lidia|language=es}}</ref> He relocated to Norway again and finished his studies and returned to Spain with his godfather. He worked as an intern and in a supermarket there. He later entered to study 3D modelling and animation in Arteneo School in Madrid.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == === First channel and beginnings (2006–2011) === Rubén Doblas Gundersen created his first YouTube channel in 2006 under the name "elrubius". He claimed this channel to be a play on words, referring to his name and the fact that he had blonde hair when he was little.<ref name="elgrupoinformatico.com">{{cite web |title=7 curiosidades sobre El Rubius |url=https://www.elgrupoinformatico.com/curiosidades-sobre-rubius-t22593.html |website=El Grupo Informático |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=17 March 2015}}</ref> His first video "The audience" was uploaded on 8 December 2006. His video was a montage of the video game ''Grand Theft Auto IV'' in English.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20180128/44292603144/el-rubius-youtube-youtuber-seis-anos.html |title=ElRubius cumple seis años de reinado en YouTube como espejo de una generación |first=Xiana |last=Siccardi |date=28 January 2018 |access-date=14 January 2020 |newspaper=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> During 2011, he began regularly uploading videos of montages of the newer video game ''Skyrim'', where Rubius commented on unusual and humorous situations in-game.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rubius cambia la ubicación de su Twitter de Madrid a... ¡Skyrim! |journal=MARCA |date=4 February 2021 |url=https://www.marca.com/videojuegos/lo-mas-gaming/2021/02/04/601bb94a22601d4f408b4603.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref> In January 2012, despite the growing popularity of his videos, he announced that he would change his channel because the one he had at that time could not be associated with a contract with Machinima Network, Inc. This was due to uploading three copyright infringement complaints on YouTube.<ref name="marketing4ecommerce.net">{{cite web |title=Historia de El Rubius: cómo Rubén Doblas se transformó en ElRubiusOMG S.L. |url=https://marketing4ecommerce.net/historia-de-elrubius/ |website=Marketing 4 Ecommerce - Tu revista de marketing online para e-commerce |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=6 December 2021}}</ref>
=== Growth and popularity (2012–2013) === On 19 December 2011, El Rubius created another channel under the name of "elrubiusOMG". In January, he began to reupload his old ''The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' montages, in addition to other montages in which he commented on situations of various video games such as ''Battlefield'' and ''Happy Wheels''. At this time, it was a very popular format on the platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=La figura del YouTuber: ¿qué hace que una persona triunfe en YouTube? |url=https://idus.us.es/bitstream/handle/11441/92338/TFG%20ELENA%20P%C3%81EZ%20YOUTUBE.pdf?sequence=1 |website=University of Seville |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |format=pdf}}</ref> Rubius was one of the pioneers in making this type of videos known in the Spanish-speaking community. Its popularity began to increase dramatically.<ref name="dexerto.es">{{cite web |title=El secreto detrás de Rubius: el YouTuber más grande de España |url=https://www.dexerto.es/entretenimiento/el-secreto-detr%C3%A1s-de-rubius-el-youtuber-m%C3%A1s-grande-de-espa%C3%B1a-772635/ |website=Dexerto |access-date=30 December 2021 |date=3 July 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228211226/https://www.dexerto.es/entretenimiento/el-secreto-detr%C3%A1s-de-rubius-el-youtuber-m%C3%A1s-grande-de-espa%C3%B1a-772635/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 28 January 2012, he created the video "MI CARA". He revealed his identity for the first time on YouTube there.<ref>{{cite web |title=La primera vez que ElRubius mostró su cara en Youtube |url=https://www.viraltrix.com/la-primera-vez-que-elrubius-mostro-su-cara-en-youtube/ |website=Viraltrix |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=15 June 2016}}</ref> At this time, he created a segment on his channel called "(X video game) in 1 minute". In these videos, he tried to summarise a video game in an ironic and humorous way. This section became one of the most viral sections on YouTube in Spain at this time.<ref name="marketing4ecommerce.net" />
On 14 March 2012, he uploaded a parody of Chayanne's song "Torero", where he modified its title and lyrics to "Minero", alluding to the ''Minecraft'' video game. The song was based on the parody.<ref>{{cite web |title=Los vídeos más vistos de El Rubius en YouTube |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/influencers/elrubius/videos-vistos-Rubius-YouTube_3_1366693319.html |website=Movistar eSports |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=22 June 2020}}</ref> Because the popularity of the video game was emerging at that time, the video became extremely viral. Today, it is the most viewed video in the channel's history, with almost 100 million views.<ref>{{cite web |title=ElRubius: sus grandes hitos en 10 años |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/influencers/elrubius/elrubius-rubius-hitos-youtuber-anuncio_3_1373592629.html |website=Movistar eSports |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=15 July 2020}}</ref> The popularity of Rubius and the channel continued to rise and rise. On 27 April 2012, the channel reached 100,000 subscribers, which Rubius celebrated by streaming on YouTube, answering questions from his followers.<ref name="lasprovincias.es">{{cite journal |title=Quién es El Rubius: cosas que no sabías del youtuber más famoso de España |journal=Las Provincias |date=4 February 2021 |url=https://www.lasprovincias.es/gente-estilo/rubius-youtuber-20210204180910-nt.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
On 22 July 2012, his channel reached 200,000 subscribers. On 29 July, he uploaded a vlog where he met Mangel (Miguel Ángel Rogel) for the first time in-person, another Spanish YouTuber who met Rubius on internet forums when both were teenagers. Rubius and Mangel announced that both would move to live together in Madrid when they got a contract with a production company called BGames. There, they had to dedicate themselves to creating videos for the platform.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Un fenómeno de masas apodado "Rubius" |journal=El Milenio |date=3 September 2016 |url=https://elmilenio.info/2016/09/03/un-fenomeno-de-masas-apodado-rubius/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=ElRubius confiesa que ha pensado en irse de España |journal=La Vanguardia |date=5 October 2018 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20181005/452176325088/elrubius-youtube-documental-virtual-hero-youtuber.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref> On 16 September 2012, his channel reached 300,000 subscribers. On 7 October, Rubius uploaded a video of him in Chatroulette. Chatroulette is a video conference website. There, Rubius showed situations in his conversations with strangers on which the website had. Three days later, he uploaded a collaboration with Willyrex. He remained the largest YouTuber in Spain until 2012. A week later, his channel reached 400,000 subscribers. In December, his channel reached 500,000 subscribers, which Rubius announced by uploading a montage of himself.<ref name="businessinsider.es">{{cite web |last1=Cruz |first1=Carlos Ferrer-Bonsoms |title=Así vive y gasta su fortuna elRubius: de hablar fatal español a ser uno de los youtubers de habla hispana más importantes del mundo con un sueldo de 4,3 millones de euros al año |url=https://www.businessinsider.es/vive-gasta-fortuna-ruben-doblas-conocido-como-rubius-521069 |website=Business Insider España |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=18 September 2020}}</ref>
Rubius became the most subscribed Spanish channel in November 2012 by surpassing fellow YouTuber Willyrex.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://prnoticias.com/internet-y-redes-sociales/internet/20155315-elrubius-rompe-graficas-mas-seguido-youtube#inline-auto1611 |title=ElRubius rompe las gráficas y se convierte en el más seguido en Youtube |date=18 August 2016 |access-date=14 January 2019 |work=PR Noticias |language=es}}</ref> In January 2013, he started another segment called "Meet The Rubius" (alluding to a popular video game series ''Team Fortress 2'' on YouTube). Rubius recounted anecdotes from his personal life there. In a period of two months, on 18 February 2013, his channel reached one million subscribers, becoming part of the 10 Spanish-speaking channels that had that reached that level (or higher) at that time.<ref name="marketing4ecommerce.net" /> Two months later, his channel reached two million subscribers. In June 2013, he was invited by Ubisoft Spain as a content creator for E3. In July, he attended the Gamepolis event in Malaga, alongside Mangel and other famous YouTube content creators.<ref>{{cite journal |title=De Rubius a Lolito: seis momentos memorables de Gamepolis |journal=Diario Sur |date=15 July 2019 |url=https://www.diariosur.es/culturas/rubius-lolito-seis-20190715153840-nt.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
=== 10 million subscribers, media appearances and other projects (2014–2015) === In 2014, El Rubius published an interactive book full of challenges titled ''El Libro Troll'' (English: ''The Troll Book'').<ref name="marketing4ecommerce.net" /> The book reached number one in sales in Spain for eight weeks and was a bestseller at the Madrid Book Fair 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/ocio-y-cultura/las-librerias-troll-3397263 |title=There's a Troll at the bookshops |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=22 July 2014 |date=22 July 2014 |last=Alós |first=Ernest |language=es |location=Barcelona}}</ref> The Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio deemed it unsuitable for children and teenagers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2601800/0/el-libro-troll/el-rubius/no-apto-para-menores/ |title='El libro troll' de El Rubius no es apto para niños, según una autoridad colombiana |author=EFE |author-link=EFE |date=11 November 2015 |access-date=2 October 2018 |newspaper=20 Minutos |language=es}}</ref> It was described by parents as a sexual book.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-16415656 |title='El libro Troll' tiene en alerta a padres por retos de tipo sexual |first=Tatiana |last=Lizarazo |date=28 October 2015 |access-date=2 October 2018 |newspaper=El Tiempo}}</ref> He also made a cameo appearance, this being in ''Torrente 5'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jabato |first1=Luisa N. |title=El Rubius anuncia su cameo en 'Uncharted' |url=https://www.ecartelera.com/noticias/el-ribius-cameo-uncharted-66700/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=eCartelera |date=22 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius, fichaje inesperado de 'Uncharted' |url=https://www.sensacine.com/noticias/cine/noticia-18589882/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=SensaCine.com |date=22 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius hará un cameo en 'Uncharted' junto a Tom Holland |url=https://www.hola.com/actualidad/20211025198397/el-rubius-uncharted-tom-holland-nf/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=¡Hola! |date=25 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref> a Spanish comedy film by Santiago Segura.<ref>{{cite web |title=El Rubius tiene un cameo en la película de Uncharted con Tom Holland |url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350748810/el-rubius-tiene-un-cameo-en-la-pelicula-de-uncharted-con-tom-holland/ |website=Vandal |access-date=6 January 2022 |language=es-es |date=22 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Villalba |first1=Por Juanjo |title=La transformación de El Rubius en sus 10 años como youtuber |journal=Men's Health |date=15 December 2021 |url=https://www.menshealth.com/es/noticias-deportivas-masculinas/a38483727/transformacion-el-rubius-en-sus-10-anos-youtuber/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |language=es-ES}}</ref> On 25 September, he announced via video that Microsoft would contact him to participate in the Spanish dub for the video game ''Sunset Overdrive''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zamorano |first1=Luis López |title=El Rubius pondrá su voz a un personaje de Sunset Overdrive |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/rubius-pondra-voz-personaje-sunset-overdrive-18376 |website=Hobbyconsolas |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=25 September 2014}}</ref> In February 2015, he became the first Spanish YouTuber whose channel reached 10 million subscribers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2015/02/03/articulo/1422985394_469166.html |title=El Rubius logra diez millones de seguidores en YouTube |first=Guillermo |last=López |date=3 February 2015 |access-date=14 January 2019 |newspaper=El País |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius, primer canal español en pasar los 10 millones de seguidores en Youtube |url=https://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia-internet/noticias/6447243/02/15/El-Rubius-primer-canal-espanol-en-pasar-los-10-millones-de-seguidores-en-Youtube.html |work=El Economista |access-date=6 January 2022 |language=es |date=4 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Borjas |first1=Fernando |title=El Rubius, primer canal español de Youtube en superar los 10 millones de suscriptores |url=https://juegosadn.es/el-rubius-primer-canal-espanol-de-youtube-en-superar-los-10-millones-de-suscriptores-no-83166/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=JuegosADN |date=4 February 2015 |language=es}}</ref> In April 2015, he participated in the first edition of the Club Media Fest in Argentina.<ref>{{cite news |title=ClubMediaFest: El primer festival de youtubers en Argentina |url=https://www.periodismo.com/2015/04/09/club-media-fest/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Periodismo.com |date=9 April 2015 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rubius, Mangel y otros youtubers conquistan Buenos Aires con el Club Media Fest |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2576610/0/youtubers/rubius-mangel/club-media-fest-argentina/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=20bits |date=10 October 2015 |language=es-ES}}</ref>
On 2 June, he had an interview on Antena 3 in the Spanish programme ''Al rincón de pensar''. The programme's journalist was Risto Mejide. Rubius couldn't suppress his tears after telling Mejide that he was suffering from depression due to the burden of fame and being away from his family.<ref>{{cite news |title=La noche que Risto Mejide entrevistó a Rubén y no al Rubius |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2015/06/03/articulo/1433312809_746934.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Verne |date=3 June 2015 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='El Rubius' se confiesa entre lágrimas a Risto Mejide: "Nunca me he abierto a nadie" |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.es/2015/06/03/el-rubius-llora-risto-mejide-_n_7499314.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=El HuffPost |date=3 June 2015 |language=es}}</ref> Spanish publishing group Planeta published Rubius' first comic, titled ''El Rubius: Virtual Hero'', in September 2015.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/rubius-virtual-hero-comic-rubius-126532 |title=El Rubius: Virtual Hero, el cómic de El Rubius |first=Jesús |last=Delgado Manzano |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=2 October 2018 |journal=Hobby Consolas |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Virtual Hero, la serie de anime creada por El Rubius |url=https://okdiario.com/series/virtual-hero-anime-rubius-2576738 |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Okdiario |date=24 October 2017 |language=es}}</ref> In October 2015, he received the Diamond Play Button at the YouTube 10th Anniversary Party in Madrid, along with fellow Spanish YouTuber Vegetta777.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eleconomista.es/tecnologia-internet/noticias/6447243/02/15/El-Rubius-primer-canal-espanol-en-pasar-los-10-millones-de-seguidores-en-Youtube.html |title=El Rubius, the first Spanish YouTube channel which reaches 10 million subscribers |newspaper=El Economista |access-date=4 February 2015 |date=4 February 2015 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://verne.elpais.com/verne/2015/10/22/articulo/1445511808_144717.html |title=El Rubius and Vegetta777, the first Spanish 'diamonds' in YouTube |newspaper=El País |access-date=23 October 2015 |date=23 October 2015 |last1=Peinado |first1=Mari Luz |last2=González |first2=Lucía |language=es}}</ref> During this month, he participated in the second edition of the Club Media Fest in Argentina and Chile.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ya llegan los youtubers más importantes del mundo al Club Media Fest |url=https://www.czcomunicacion.com/noticias/167-ya-llegan-los-youtubers-mas-importantes-del-mundo-al-club-media-fest |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=C. Z. Comunicacion |date=8 October 2015 |language=es-es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Club Media Fest 2015 - La fiebre YouTuber en Argentina |url=https://www.redusers.com/noticias/club-media-fest-2015-la-fiebre-youtuber-en-argentina/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=RedUSERS |date=20 April 2015}}</ref> In December, he made a collaboration in a video with the Spanish singer Edurne dancing in the video game ''Just Dance''.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius y Edurne se retan a un duelo de baile y arrasan en la red |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2621703/0/el-rubius/edurne/just-dance/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=20 minutos |date=4 December 2015 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Los bailes en Just Dance de El Rubius y Edurne |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20151204/30593159470/edurne-rubius-bailes-last-dance.html |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=La Vanguardia |date=4 December 2015 |language=es}}</ref>
=== Problems with the press and censorship, direct and hiatus (2016–2018) === In February 2016, El Rubius denounced the Spanish newspaper El Mundo through a video, saying that they had distorted and manipulated an interview that he himself granted, in order to "sell more". He announced that he would not give any more reports or interviews for the press.<ref>{{cite news |title=El enfado de Elrubius: "No voy a dar más entrevistas" |url=https://www.elmundo.es/papel/todologia/2016/02/08/56b79a3646163f164c8b45e4.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=El Mundo |date=8 February 2016 |language=es}}</ref> In April, Rubius participated in the Colombian edition of the Club Media Fest, where he made a presentation mixing live electronic music,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marcos |first1=Ana |title=La conquista americana de ElRubius |url=https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2016/04/01/actualidad/1459531741_435154.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=El País |date=1 April 2016 |language=es}}</ref> received the "Youtuber of the Year" award at the 1st Play Awards ceremony held in Palma de Mallorca,<ref>{{cite news |title=Elrubius recibe el Play Award a 'Youtuber del año' en Palma |url=https://www.elmundo.es/baleares/2016/04/20/5717ae9ee2704ee9238b4614.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=El Mundo |date=20 April 2016 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No habrá premios Play Awards tras las críticas de youtubers como ElRubius y Wismichu |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2017/05/16/articulo/1494929471_843529.html |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Verne |date=16 May 2017 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Los youtubers más populares de España dicen 'no' a los Play Awards |url=https://hipertextual.com/2017/05/youtubers-elrubius-play-awards |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Hipertextual |date=16 May 2017 |language=es}}</ref> and in April 2016 he uploaded a music video titled "Pokemon HEYEYEYEAH" with Narehop, a parody of What's Up? (1993) by Rock band 4 Non Blondes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PILAR |first1=SAMUEL A. |title=Los videos más reproducidos en Youtube l RTVE.es |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20161207/himno-roja-morancos-cancion-sobre-boli-manzana-mas-visto-youtube-durante-2016/1450477.shtml |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=RTVE.es |date=7 December 2016 |language=es}}</ref> In May he participated in a YouTube event in New York with the most famous YouTubers in the world, where he met PewDiePie in-person.<ref>{{cite news |title=YouTube: ElRubius y PewDiePie, juntos en un congreso secreto |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/tecnologia/20160505/401574172584/creator-summit-de-youtube-youtubers-elrubius-pewdiepie.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=La Vanguardia |date=5 May 2016 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rubius, PewDiePie y otras celebridades de YouTube, juntas |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/congreso-secreto-youtubers-rubius-pewdiepie_0_VyRbVSN-Z.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Clarín |date=5 May 2016 |language=es}}</ref> During the event, he organised an event for people over 18 in Barcelona where he performed a concert mixing music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rubius & Friends at Under Club, Barcelona (2016) ⟋ RA |url=https://ra.co/events/839600 |website=Resident Advisor |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The second part of Virtual Hero, whose title is ''Virtual Hero II: La torre imposible'', was published in June 2016.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/virtual-hero-2-rubius-torre-imposible-review-segundo-comic-rubius-146042 |title=Virtual Hero 2: El Rubius - La Torre Imposible - Review del segundo cómic de El Rubius |first=Jesús |last=Delgado Manzano |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=2 October 2018 |journal=Hobby Consolas |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Correa |first1=Alejo |title=Nuevo tráiler de la segunda temporada de Virtual Hero |url=https://ramenparados.com/nuevo-trailer-y-fecha-de-estreno-de-la-segunda-temporada-de-virtual-hero/ |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=Ramen Para Dos |date=9 January 2020 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mirá cuáles fueron los libros que eligieron los salteños en agosto |url=https://www.lagacetasalta.com.ar/nota/60405/espectaculos/mira-cuales-fueron-libros-eligieron-saltenos-agosto.html |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=La Gaceta |date=7 September 2016 |language=es}}</ref>
After surpassing 20 million subscribers in August 2016, Rubius made a big draw with a tweet saying "Limonada".<ref>{{cite news |title=Un limón lleva a ElRubius al 'top ten' de los mayores retuits de la historia |url=https://www.elmundo.es/f5/2016/08/23/57bc0085e2704e30138b4616.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=El Mundo |date=23 August 2016 |language=es}}</ref> As of September 2019, it is the fifth most-shared tweet in history.<ref>{{cite web |title=TOP Tweets más compartidos de la historia en 2021 |url=https://www.atribus.com/top-tweets-compartidos-2021/ |website=Atribus |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es-ES |date=28 February 2019}}</ref> In September, he uploaded a video criticising YouTube's system of new anti-censorship rules. There Rubius joked that he was going to have to change his style as "he didn't want to lose his partner and that he loved his money". However, during the video, he went on to break all the new rules imposed, with the video being demonetised and age-restricted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Echezuria |first1=Mauricio |title=El Rubius expresa su opinión con respecto a la censura de contenido adecuado para anunciantes en YouTube |url=https://www.nolapeles.com/2016/09/03/rubius-opina-censura-youtube/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=NO LA PELES! |date=4 September 2016 |language=es-MX}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Javier |title=El Rubius se rebela contra la censura de Youtube |url=https://alfabetajuega.com/multiplataforma/el-rubius-se-rebela-contra-la-censura-de-youtube-n-73007 |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Alfa Beta Juega |date=3 December 2021 |language=es |archive-date=30 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230224702/https://alfabetajuega.com/multiplataforma/el-rubius-se-rebela-contra-la-censura-de-youtube-n-73007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A couple of weeks later, he uploaded another video denouncing a new magazine dedicated to gossip about YouTubers that had leaked photos of himself and his partner on their vacations, declaring "I can't believe how this shit of continuing to invade people's privacy is still legal in the middle of 2016".<ref>{{cite web |title=La privacidad de los youtubers famosos: El caso de El Rubius y su novia |url=https://www.faseconsulting.es/legal/privacidad/la-privacidad-de-los-youtubers-famosos-el-caso-de-el-rubius-y-su-novia |website=Fase Consulting - Abogados y Asesoría Integral en Ibiza |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=19 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius carga contra los 'paparazzi' |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2016/09/15/articulo/1473954641_225035.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Verne |date=15 September 2016 |language=es}}</ref> In 2016, the HeYou Games company launched the ''YouTurbo'' video game for iOS and Android. There Rubius is a playable character along with other YouTubers, such as Willyrex, DaniRep, iTownGamePlay, TheGrefg, and more.<ref>{{cite web |title=El juego de El Rubius ya se puede descargar gratis |url=https://neox.atresmedia.com/games/noticias/curioso/fans-rubius-enfadan-juego_201611115825bfe30cf2581e1c27eea9.html |website=Neox Games |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=11 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ya está disponible YouTurbo, el juego de los youtubers, para iOS y Android |url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350682468/ya-esta-disponible-youturbo-para-ios-y-android/ |website=Vandal |date=14 October 2016 |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es-es}}</ref>
In December 2016, he was part of the promotion of the film ''Passengers'', making a video in collaboration with Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, protagonists of the film. Later, during an interview with Lawrence on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show, he and the video were mentioned.<ref>{{cite journal |title=¿Qué hace ElRubius con Jennifer Lawrence y Chris Pratt? |journal=La Vanguardia |date=9 December 2016 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20161209/412498898331/elrubius-chris-pratt-jennifer-lawrence.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref> During 2016 and 2017 he participated in Spanish advertising campaigns of Fanta.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fanta apuesta por los motes en su nueva campaña |url=http://www.cocacolaespana.es/nosotros/notas-pecas-monas-fanta#.V4mkFGjx7IVs-monas-fanta |website=Coca-Cola España |access-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716030336/http://www.cocacolaespana.es/nosotros/notas-pecas-monas-fanta#.V4mkFGjx7IV |archive-date=16 July 2016 |language=es |date=16 July 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fanta abandonará la televisión como soporte publicitario para centrarse en los nuevos canales que ha creado la red |url=https://www.puromarketing.com/9/32523/fanta-abandonara-television-como-soporte-publicitario-para-centrarse-nuevos-canales-creado-red.html |website=PuroMarketing |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=es-ES |date=10 September 2019}}</ref> In June he participated in the edition of the Club Media Fest in Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title=Club Media Fest llega a México con los mejores youtubers |url=https://www.maspormas.com/ciudad/club-media-fest-mexico-youtubers/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Máspormás |date=30 May 2017 |language=es-ES}}</ref> In October he participated in the edition of the Club Media Fest in Peru.<ref>{{cite news |title=Entel Media Fest: Estos son todos los youtubers que llegarán a Lima [VIDEO] |url=https://trome.pe/espectaculos/entel-media-fest-youtubers-confirmados-video-61404/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Trome |date=2 October 2017 |language=es}}</ref> The third and last part of his comic series Virtual Hero was published in April 2017. It was entitled ''Virtual Hero III: La máscara del troll''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cross |first1=Sora |title=Primeras voces confirmadas para el anime de Virtual Hero |url=https://ramenparados.com/primeras-voces-confirmadas-anime-virtual-hero/ |access-date=31 December 2021 |work=Ramen Para Dos |date=25 February 2018 |language=es}}</ref> In October 2017, El Rubius announced the production of Virtual Hero, an animated television series produced by Motion Pictures from Barcelona and Jaruyi studio from South Korea, together with Movistar+ and Zeppelin TV, based on his comic series.<ref>{{cite journal |title=El Rubius y Movistar + preparan la primera serie de anime de España |journal=El País |date=20 October 2017 |url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2017/10/20/television/1508488813_235430.html |access-date=31 December 2021 |language=es |issn=1134-6582 }}</ref> The plot follows the adventures of Rubius, who must free the 100 best gamers of Trollmask, a vengeful enemy, in a virtual world.<ref>{{cite news |title=ElRubius tendrá su propia serie de anime en Movistar+ |url=https://www.formulatv.com/noticias/72995/elrubius-propia-serie-anime-movistar/ |access-date=31 December 2021 |work=FormulaTV |date=19 October 2017 |language=es}}</ref>
=== Platform switch to Twitch (2018–present) === At the beginning of March 2018, Rubius released a video called ''La verdad sobre Rubius'' (English:''The Truth About Rubius''). There he made an analogy of his personality in his videos on YouTube and in real life introducing a "twin" of his named Gundersen. The video was well received by its followers. It had many likes.<ref>{{cite news |title=La confesión de ElRubius que no te vas a creer |url=https://los40.com/los40/2018/03/05/videojuegos/1520257670_734048.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=LOS40 |date=5 March 2018 |language=es}}</ref> In March 2018, El Rubius broke his world record during a live broadcast of Fortnite, having more than a million viewers tuning in<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20180326/441964563609/elrubius-youtube-youtubers-fortnite-record.html |title=ElRubius bate un nuevo récord mundial de Youtube con el torneo online de 'Fortnite' |first=Xiana |last=Siccardi |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=14 January 2019 |newspaper=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> and 100 Spanish-speaking streamers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/26/17163966/fortnite-elrubiusomg-youtube-livestream-twitch-ninja-drake |title=Fortnite livestream with 100 YouTubers draws in more than 1M viewers |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=March 26, 2018 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |work=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media, Inc. |editor-last=Grant |editor-first=Christopher}}</ref> In this way, he destroyed the record that the streamer had until then, Ninja.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius bate el récord mundial de streaming en Fortnite |url=https://as.com/meristation/2018/03/26/noticias/1522041720_174268.html |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=MeriStation |date=26 March 2018 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ElRubius destroza el récord de Ninja con su torneo de Fortnite |url=https://esports.as.com/fortnite/ElRubius-destroza-record-Ninja-Fortnite_0_1120687923.html |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=Movistar eSports |date=26 March 2018 |language=es}}</ref> On 25 May he announced that he would withdraw from YouTube for a time due to the fact that in the previous months he began to feel stress, anxious and nervous when recording videos and doing live shows.<ref>{{cite news |title=ElRubius se retira de YouTube por el estrés y la ansiedad |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/muyfan/20180525/443814713737/elrubius-youtube-youtuber-ansiedad-estres-retira.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=La Vanguardia |date=25 May 2018 |language=es}}</ref>
Rubius later reached 30 million subscribers in July.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius supera los 30 millones de suscriptores |url=https://www.elgrupoinformatico.com/rubius-supera-los-millones-suscriptores-t44366.html |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=El Grupo Informático |date=3 July 2018 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ElRubius, al alcanzar los 30 millones de suscriptores: "Ahora soy más tímido" |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2018/07/02/articulo/1530538105_711166.html |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=Verne |date=2 July 2018 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/sociedad/2018/07/02/1010793/elrubius-llega-millones-suscriptores-youtube.html |title=ElRubius llega a los 30 millones de suscriptores en Youtube |date=2 July 2018 |access-date=14 January 2019 |newspaper=Última Hora}}</ref> On 3 October 2018, El Rubius uploaded a documentary about his life on his YouTube channel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.europapress.es/videos/video-rubius-preestrena-hoy-documental-canal-youtube-20181003120827.html |title=El Rubius preestrena hoy su documental en su canal de Youtube |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |newspaper=Europa Press |language=es}}</ref> It was released on Movistar+ on 11 October 2018. It was titled ''De Rubén a Rubius: un viaje de un Virtual Hero''.<ref>{{cite news |title=[Noticias] "De Rubén a Rubius: un viaje de un Virtual Hero", el documental sobre la vida del youtuber llegará a Movistar + el 11 de octubre |url=https://www.loslunesseriefilos.com/2018/10/noticias-de-ruben-rubius-un-viaje-de-un.html |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Los Lunes Seriéfilos - Web de cine y series |date=3 October 2018 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Movistar+ estrenará el 11 de octubre "De Rubén a Rubius: un viaje de un Virtual Hero" |url=https://www.endemolshineiberia.com/index.php/2018/10/03/estreno-documental-sobre-el-rubius/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |work=Endemol Shine Iberia |date=3 October 2018 |language=es |archive-date=6 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106020250/https://www.endemolshineiberia.com/index.php/2018/10/03/estreno-documental-sobre-el-rubius/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://as.com/epik/2018/10/03/portada/1538581702_826468.html |title='De Rubén a Rubius', el documental que cuenta el ascenso del youtuber |first=Víctor |last=Millán |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |newspaper=AS |language=es}}</ref> On 12 October 2018, ''Virtual Hero'', the first anime series released in Spain, premiered on Movistar+.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/sociedad/2018/09/24/el-rubius-pasa-anime-con-virtual-hero-octubre-movistar-1268290-310.html |title=El Rubius se pasa al anime con 'Virtual Hero' el 12 de octubre en Movistar+ |author=EFE |author-link=EFE |date=24 September 2018 |access-date=2 October 2018 |newspaper=Heraldo de Aragón |language=es |publisher=Henneo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/series/20171020/432199040716/el-rubius-serie-virtual-hero.html |title=El Rubius prepara con Movistar el primer anime de la historia de España |first=Pere Solà |last=Gimferrer |location=Barcelona |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=2 October 2018 |newspaper=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> It is directed by Alexis Barroso, illustrated by Lolita Aldea, written by Juan Torres, and based on Rubius' eponymous comic.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://cinemania.elmundo.es/serie/primeras-imagenes-de-virtual-hero-el-anime-de-el-rubius/ |title=Primeras imágenes de 'Virtual Hero', el anime de El Rubius |first=Irene |last=Crespo |date=10 April 2018 |access-date=2 October 2018 |publisher=El Mundo|journal=Cinemania |language=es}}</ref> After his return, Rubius announced that he would start directing on Twitch and prioritise that platform over YouTube, which he would take more as a secondary job. He also resumed the activity of his old original channel elrubius to reupload his content on Twitch there. Because of this, he renamed it to "Rubius Z".<ref>{{cite web |title=ElRubius se pasa a Twitch: el mayor youtuber español se acerca a la plataforma de vídeo de Amazon |url=https://marketing4ecommerce.net/elrubius-se-pasa-twitch-mayor-youtuber-espanol/ |website=Marketing 4 Ecommerce - Tu revista de marketing online para e-commerce |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=9 November 2018}}</ref>
In May 2019 he announced that Epic Games contacted him to hold a competition in Fortnite. There players had to speedrun a map of his and the winner took 3 million euros.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rubius lanza un concurso en el que puedes ganar 3 millones de euros |url=https://www.geekno.com/rubius-lanza-un-concurso-en-el-que-puedes-ganar-3-millones-de-euros.html |website=Geekno |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=30 May 2019}}</ref> In mid-2019 he made a cameo in the movie ''Father There Is Only One''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Iglesias |first1=Eulàlia |title='Padre no hay más que uno': Santiago Segura ya es el mayor cuñado de España |journal=El Confidencial |date=2 August 2019 |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/cultura/cine/2019-08-02/santiago-segura-padre-no-mas-uno-comedia_2156763/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref> During January 2020, he carried out a promotion for the film ''Bad Boys for Life''. There he uploaded a video together with the protagonists of the film Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will Smith y Martin Lawrence se cuelan en el último vídeo de ElRubius |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/random-news/Will-Smith-Martin-Lawrence-ElRubius_0_1317768213.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Movistar eSports |date=11 January 2020 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Justo |first1=David |title="Lo más legendario de la historia de mi canal": Will Smith se cuela en el último vídeo de El Rubius |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2020/01/13/gente/1578913282_718336.html |website=Cadena SER |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=13 January 2020}}</ref> In February, he made a transmission on YouTube where he counted down to the Season 2 premiere of the Virtual Hero anime. In July, he uploaded a teaser on Twitter where he was going to make an announcement in response to various rumors about the renewal of his contract with Amazon. On July 15, he uploaded a video to YouTube called "The Final Decision". He imitated the video of the announcement of the signing of streamer Ninja to the streaming platform Facebook Gaming there. In reality, he announced that he was staying.<ref>{{cite news |title=ElRubius anuncia que se queda en Twitch |url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/07/15/articulo/1594804143_090877.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Verne |date=15 July 2020 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Las cifras del anuncio de ElRubius: por esto se queda en Twitch |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/influencers/cifras-anuncio-ElRubius-queda-Twitch_0_1373862603.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Movistar eSports |date=16 July 2020 |language=es}}</ref> ''Watch Dogs: Legion'', a video game developed by Ubisoft and released on 29 October 2020, has El Rubius as a playable character.<ref>{{cite journal |title=El Rubius será uno de los personajes jugables de Watch Dogs: Legion |journal=La Vanguardia |date=11 September 2020 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/videojuegos/20200911/483401952205/rubius-watch-dogs-legion-youtube-personaje.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Dogs Legion: El Rubius será un personaje jugable en el esperado juego de Ubisoft |url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350737860/watch-dogs-legion-el-rubius-sera-un-personaje-jugable/ |website=Vandal |date=10 September 2020 |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es-es}}</ref>
In October and November 2020, he was one of the coaches in Atresmedia's Top Gamers Academy video game talent show.<ref>{{cite news|date=4 October 2020|title=Llega 'Top Gamers Academy', el programa de televisión con ElRubius, Willyrex y TheGrefg|language=es|work=Verne|url=https://verne.elpais.com/verne/2020/10/01/articulo/1601570667_096006.html|access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> On 7 November 2020, Rubius uploaded a video on his YouTube channel where he commented on the massiveness of his community and the negative effects this has on social networks to celebrate reaching 39 million subscribers on his channel.<ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius celebra sus 39 millones de suscriptores con "algo de lo que nunca he hablado" |url=https://los40.com/los40/2020/11/11/bigbang/1605091644_942514.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=LOS40 |date=11 November 2020 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=La celebración más seria de ElRubius: "Nunca me ha gustado ser tan conocido" |url=https://www.flooxernow.com/fan/elrubius-cuantos-seguidores-tiene_202011085fa7d3ff0e37c40001fafb8a.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Flooxer |date=8 November 2020 |language=es}}</ref> Rubius also participated in another promotion with Sony to announce his new ninth-generation video game console the PlayStation 5, along with other YouTubers and popular people from Spain such as Josep Pedrerol, Michelle Jenner, Santiago Segura, Joaquín Reyes, David Broncano, Koke, Carolina Marín, Amaya Valdemoro, Marc Gasol, etc.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|last1=Soriano|first1=David Soriano|date=19 November 2020|title=Pedrerol, Rubius, Broncano, Ibai... PlayStation 5 reúne a las celebrities españolas en su nuevo anuncio|url=https://es.ign.com/ps5/168825/news/pedrerol-rubius-broncano-ibai-playstation-5-reune-a-las-celebrities-espanolas-en-su-nuevo-anuncio|journal=IGN España|language=es-es|access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Rubius explora el interior de la PS5 en el corto "Acceso Ilimitado" |journal=MARCA |date=19 November 2020 |url=https://www.marca.com/videojuegos/playstation/2020/11/19/5fb6e73f46163f29098b45f4.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
In December 2020, Rubius uploaded a video to his main YouTube channel, announcing that he was opening a Pokémon card box valued at $20,000 on his Twitch channel. On 23 December he performed the promised opening and the livestream reached 350,000 viewers, achieving the fifth most viewed Spanish-speaking broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Es|first1=Dexerto|date=24 December 2020|title=El Rubius abre en directo una caja de 20k dólares de cartas Pokémon|language=es|work=Dexerto|url=https://www.dexerto.es/pokemon/el-rubius-abre-en-directo-una-caja-de-20k-dolares-de-cartas-pokemon-1430499/|access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=maniacos|first1=esports|date=24 December 2020|title=La apertura de cartas Pokémon de ElRubius: más de 35.000 dólares en cartas|language=es|work=esportsmaniacos|url=https://www.esportmaniacos.com/otras-noticias/la-apertura-de-cartas-pokemon-de-elrubius-mas-de-35-000-dolares-en-cartas/|access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> On 2 January Rubius announced via Twitter that, together with Alexby11, they created a Rust series called Egoland that brought together 70 streamers. In their debut they achieved 1.2 million viewers. It was one of the biggest events of 2021 on Twitch and this led to many more series being created with content creators.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Consolas|first1=Hobby|date=4 January 2021|title=Egoland, el servidor de Rust con multitud de streamers españoles sobreviviendo, arrasa en Twitch|language=es|work=Hobbyconsolas|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/egoland-servidor-rust-multitud-streamers-espanoles-sobreviviendo-arrasa-twitch-784075|access-date=4 January 2022}}</ref>
In October 2021, he announced that he would be part of the movie ''Uncharted'', posting a photo on social media with actor Tom Holland.<ref>{{cite news |title=El secretito de Rubius con Tom Holland era un cameo en la peli de Uncharted |url=https://esports.as.com/bonus/influencers/secretito-Rubius-Tom-Holland-Uncharted_0_1512448747.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Movistar eSports |date=21 October 2021 |language=es}}</ref> On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his first video on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video announced through the Jove Orquestra Simfònica from Barcelona playing the theme ''Minero'' the premiere of Rubius X, a documentary about the YouTuber for the 'streaming' platform at the beginning of next year in more than 240 countries.<ref>{{cite news |title='Rubius X', el documental de Amazon que celebra los 10 años de Rubius como el creador de contenido más reconocido de España |url=https://www.sensacine.com/noticias/cine/noticia-18590337/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=SensaCine.com |date=3 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El streamer ElRubius informa sobre su nuevo proyecto en Amazon Prime Video: 'Rubius X' |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/elotromundo/gente/20211203/1001720784/streamer-elrubius-amazon-prime-video-proyecto-minero-rubius-x-act-pau.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Mundo Deportivo |date=3 December 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
== Content and reception style == The content of El Rubius' channels are primarily gameplays, sketches, vlogs, and montages, mostly related to video games, with the particularity that they are made with humour, satire, and sarcasm.<ref name="lasprovincias.es"/> One of the most notorious points of its success and virality in his videos is due to the charisma, naturalness, simplicity, and direct language that he has, in addition to connecting with his audience and establishing a strong connection with the people (in average between 14 and 23 years old) who identify with him. Unlike other television personalities or content creators, he does not play a character, but only shows himself naturally, leading to greater acceptance from the masses.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Juan |first1=Cristina |title=El Rubius: las claves de su éxito en Youtube |url=https://www.iebschool.com/blog/el-rubius-las-claves-de-su-exito-en-youtube-redes-sociales/ |journal=Thinking for Innovation |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=12 February 2018}}</ref>
When he first appeared on YouTube trending in 2012, the public was used to commentators like Willyrex, who sought to highlight the details of a video game, in addition to summarising plays in various online games. Rubius offered a change of fresh air, with a more dynamic and more edited content, in addition to performing it with acid, black, absurd, and surreal humour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quién es "El Rubius", el español que en Youtube es más popular que Beyoncé y Lady Gaga juntas |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-37607267 |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=BBC News Mundo |date=10 October 2016 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Adelantado |first1=Diego S |title=El Rubius: cómo transformó su marca en una startup de éxito |url=https://www.emprendedores.es/lideres/el-rubius-marca-personal-twitch/ |website=Emprendedores.es |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es |date=4 February 2021}}</ref>
''GQ'' magazine described him as "the throbbing incarnation of a generation gap", in addition to commenting: "His videos encapsulate a high school mentality that we would never, ever think would be legitimized within such a massive platform. That has been his true triumph: turning something as fleeting as adolescent immaturity, or the clumsy search for identity through the outburst or bullshit, into pure spectacle".<ref>{{cite journal |title=ElRubius es ya la persona más influyente del imaginario pop |journal=GQ España |date=5 July 2015 |url=https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/tecnologia/articulos/el-rubius-youtuber/22178 |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es-ES}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' wrote that "in the videos it is always clear that he lives between two dimensions, that of the screen with its massive audience and that of his room (in a hotel when he travels), his cat and his friends. This double reality leads in The Troll Book, the comics and the anime series".<ref>{{cite journal |title=¿El Rubius, YouTube y los videojuegos son alta cultura? (Published 2018) |journal=The New York Times |date=14 October 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/es/2018/10/14/espanol/cultura/el-rubius-youtube-y-los-videojuegos-son-alta-cultura.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |language=es-LA}}</ref>
== Controversies == During January 2021, El Rubius announced via a Twitch broadcast that he was going to move to Andorra to live closer to his friends and avoid the public recognition that he had while living in Madrid. This caused controversy in social networks since several YouTubers and streamers had taken this initiative due to the lower tax burden in that country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Muñoz |first1=José David |title=El Rubius habla de las razones de su marcha a Andorra y responde al vicepresidente y a los que le han señalado |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/rubius-habla-razones-marcha-andorra-responde-vicepresidente-han-senalado-801603 |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Hobbyconsolas |date=30 January 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=¿Por qué algunos 'youtubers' se mudan a Andorra? |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/junior-report/20210125/6191476/rubius-muda-andorra.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=La Vanguardia |date=25 January 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Córdoba |first1=Adrián |title=El Rubius se va a Andorra: otros 'youtubers' que no tributan en España y por qué |url=https://as.com/tikitakas/2021/01/18/portada/1610991602_684270.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Diario AS |date=18 January 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
During the same statement, he denounced that a Spanish Treasury official charged him in the media for the decision he had made, taking it as unethical. The former second deputy Prime Minister of the government of Spain Pablo Iglesias criticised this decision through his Twitter account, retweeting a tweet where former athlete Juanma López Iturriaga explained that YouTubers moved to avoid paying taxes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Palmero |first1=María |title=El Rubius le hace la guerra a Pablo Iglesias en público (y viceversa) |url=https://www.vozpopuli.com/dolcevita/rubius-pablo-iglesias_0_1433857491.html |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=Vozpopuli |date=1 February 2021 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=El Rubius habla sobre su polémica de Andorra y responde a Pablo Iglesias |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4563447/0/el-rubius-polemica-andorra-responde-pablo-iglesias/ |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=20 minutos |date=30 January 2021 |language=es}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | 2016 | Play Awards | YouTuber of the Year | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.elmundo.es/baleares/2016/04/20/5717ae9ee2704ee9238b4614.html |title=Elrubius recibe el Play Award a 'Youtuber del año' en Palma |date=20 April 2016 |access-date=27 January 2022 |newspaper=El Mundo |language=es |publisher=Unidad Editorial}}</ref> |- | 2022 | ESLAND Awards | Streamer of the Year | {{nom}} | <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.marca.com/videojuegos/lo-mas-gaming/2022/01/17/61e58c8c268e3ef7508b45b7.html |title=Todos los nominados de Esland, la gala de premios organizada por TheGrefg |first=Iñaki |last=Redondo |date=17 January 2022 |access-date=27 January 2022 |newspaper=MARCA |language=es}}</ref> |}
== See also == * List of most-followed Twitch channels
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://www.twitch.tv/Rubius Rubius] on Twitch * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8070991/ Rubén Doblas Gundersen] on IMDB {{Commons}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubius, El}} Category:1990 births Category:Comedy YouTubers Category:Spanish-language YouTubers Category:Living people Category:People from Bergen Category:People from Málaga Category:Spanish people of Norwegian descent Category:Spanish gaming YouTubers Category:YouTube vloggers Category:Spanish video bloggers Category:Spanish Twitch (service) streamers Category:21st-century Spanish people Category:Spanish emigrants to Andorra