PewDiePie — The Swedish Creator Who Defined YouTube Gaming
The story of Felix Kjellberg — from uploading gaming videos in Sweden to becoming one of the most recognized creators in the history of YouTube.
PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, is a Swedish YouTuber best known for his gaming videos, comedy, and commentary. For years the face of YouTube gaming, he became one of the most-subscribed and most-noted online personalities in the world. This is the complete, verified timeline of PewDiePie.
Milestones
Felix Kjellberg is born.
Kjellberg's first YouTube account.
A new channel begins.
PewDiePie's audience explodes.
A major milestone.
Kjellberg broadens his content.
- October 24, 1989Born in Gothenburg
Felix Kjellberg is born.
- 2006First Channel, PewDie
Kjellberg's first YouTube account.
- 2010The PewDiePie Channel
A new channel begins.
- Early 2010sRapid Growth
PewDiePie's audience explodes.
- August 15, 2013Most-Subscribed on YouTube
A major milestone.
- 2015 onwardBeyond Gaming
Kjellberg broadens his content.
Explore this story
PewDiePie, born Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is a Swedish YouTuber best known for his gaming videos, along with his comedy sketches, satirical commentary, and lifestyle vlogs.
Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1989, he became one of the most influential online personalities of the 2010s. His popularity and extensive media coverage made him a figurehead for YouTube, especially in the gaming genre.
From setting up an early channel as a young man to becoming, for a long period, the most-subscribed individual creator on YouTube, his career reflects the rise of online video. This timeline traces his journey with major facts cross-checked against authoritative sources.
- October 24, 1989Born in Gothenburg
Felix Kjellberg is born.
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg was born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The birth of a future YouTube pioneer.
He grew up in a country with a strong gaming culture.
- 2006First Channel, PewDie
Kjellberg's first YouTube account.
Kjellberg set up his first YouTube channel, called PewDie, in 2006.
An early step toward his later online career.
"Pew" is slang for the sound of a laser, reflecting his gaming interests.
- 2010The PewDiePie Channel
A new channel begins.
After losing access to his earlier account, Kjellberg returned to YouTube in 2010 and created a new channel, PewDiePie, focusing on gaming commentary.
Launched the channel that would make him famous.
He is known for "Let's Play" videos, recording his reactions while playing games.
- Early 2010sRapid Growth
PewDiePie's audience explodes.
With his energetic gaming videos and commentary, Kjellberg's channel grew rapidly, attracting a large and devoted audience.
Established him as a leading figure in YouTube gaming.
His style influenced many other gaming creators.
- August 15, 2013Most-Subscribed on YouTube
A major milestone.
On August 15, 2013, PewDiePie's channel became the most-subscribed on YouTube, surpassing the channel Smosh.
Cemented his status as a figurehead for the platform.
He held the top spot for a long period.
- 2015 onwardBeyond Gaming
Kjellberg broadens his content.
Over time, Kjellberg expanded beyond gaming into comedy sketches, satirical commentary, and lifestyle vlogging, while continuing to create gaming content.
Showed his evolution as a creator.
He is recognized for versatility across content styles.
— A Swedish Beginning (1989–2009)
Born in Gothenburg in 1989, Kjellberg grew up with a love of video games and set up his first channel, PewDie, in 2006.
— The Birth of PewDiePie (2010–2012)
After losing access to his first account, Kjellberg created the PewDiePie channel in 2010, focusing on gaming commentary and "Let's Play" videos.
— Reaching the Top (2013)
His channel grew rapidly and became the most-subscribed on YouTube on August 15, 2013, surpassing Smosh.
— Evolving as a Creator (2015–present)
Kjellberg broadened his content into comedy, commentary, and vlogging while remaining a defining figure of YouTube gaming.
- PewDiePie's real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg.
- He was born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- He is a Swedish YouTuber.
- He is best known for his gaming videos.
- He also makes comedy sketches and commentary.
- He is known for lifestyle vlogging.
- He set up his first channel, PewDie, in 2006.
- He created the PewDiePie channel in 2010.
- His full name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg.
- He was born on October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- His first channel, PewDie, was set up in 2006.
- "Pew" refers to the slang sound of a laser.
- He lost access to his first account and made a new one in 2010.
- He studied at Chalmers University of Technology.
- He studied industrial economics and technology management.
- He is known for "Let's Play" gaming videos.
PewDiePie only ever made gaming videos
He also makes comedy, commentary, and vlogs.
His first channel was PewDiePie
His first channel was PewDie (2006); PewDiePie came in 2010.
He was always the most-subscribed
He reached the top spot on August 15, 2013.
He surpassed no one to reach number one
He surpassed the channel Smosh.
He is American
He is Swedish, born in Gothenburg.
He never pursued higher education
He studied at Chalmers University of Technology.
He rose to fame in the 2000s
He rose to prominence in the 2010s.
His content never changed
He evolved from gaming into broader content.
He had no influence on other creators
His style influenced many gaming creators.
He worked with a big studio from the start
He built his channel himself.
Note: Only responsibly attributable ideas are included; exact verbatim quotations are omitted where wording could not be verified.
Kjellberg has spoken about Sweden's strong gaming culture as part of his background.
He has often expressed gratitude to his audience, though the exact wording of his statements varies across sources.
PewDiePie's legacy is his role in defining YouTube gaming culture in the 2010s. As a long-running most-subscribed creator and a figurehead for the platform, he helped establish the "Let's Play" format and inspired a generation of gaming content creators worldwide.
Kjellberg's influence spans online gaming and content creation. His energetic commentary style shaped how gaming videos are made, and his massive reach helped establish YouTube as a home for gaming culture. Many creators cite him as an inspiration.
- Did you know PewDiePie's real name is Felix Kjellberg?
- Did you know he was born on October 24, 1989?
- Did you know he was born in Gothenburg, Sweden?
- Did you know his first channel was called PewDie (2006)?
- Did you know "Pew" is slang for a laser sound?
- Did you know he created the PewDiePie channel in 2010?
- Did you know he made a new channel after losing his first?
- Did you know his channel became the most-subscribed on August 15, 2013?
First channel vs. PewDiePie: He started with PewDie (2006) before creating PewDiePie (2010). Gaming vs. broader content: He began with gaming and later added comedy and vlogs. Before vs. after 2013: In 2013 he reached the most-subscribed spot on YouTube. PewDiePie vs. peers: His long reign at the top set him apart among creators.
Kjellberg's impact lies in shaping YouTube gaming culture. As a leading and long-running creator, he helped popularize the "Let's Play" format, demonstrated the mass appeal of gaming content, and influenced how a generation of creators approached online video.
Books on the history of YouTube and content creation.
Works on video game and gaming culture.
Books on internet culture and online communities.
Works on the creator economy.
- Programs and features on the rise of YouTube and its creators.
- Documentaries on gaming culture and internet personalities. (Specific titles omitted where accurate details could not be verified.)
1989 born in Gothenburg → 2006 sets up first channel, PewDie → 2010 creates the PewDiePie channel after losing access to his first → early 2010s channel grows rapidly → August 15, 2013 becomes the most-subscribed on YouTube, surpassing Smosh → 2015 onward broadens into comedy, commentary, and vlogging.
- Setting up his first channel, PewDie (2006).
- Losing access to his first account.
- Creating the PewDiePie channel (2010).
- The rapid growth of his channel.
- Popularizing his "Let's Play" style.
- Becoming the most-subscribed on YouTube (August 15, 2013).
- Surpassing the channel Smosh.
- Holding the top spot for a long period.
- Expanding into comedy and commentary.
- Moving into lifestyle vlogging.
As a highly visible online figure, Kjellberg has at times been the subject of media attention and debate over his content. This timeline focuses on his well-documented career and milestones; where specific contested matters could not be neutrally and reliably verified here, they have been omitted rather than stated imprecisely.
Kjellberg has received recognition as one of the most influential online creators, including honors celebrating top web and social-media personalities, and long held the record as the most-subscribed individual on YouTube. (Specific honors and figures are summarized generally where exact details could not be independently verified.)
PewDiePie is one of the most popular and recognizable creators in YouTube's history, with an enormous global following. For much of the 2010s he was the most-subscribed individual on the platform, and he remains a widely known figure in internet culture.
As of 2026, PewDiePie remains one of the most influential figures in the history of YouTube gaming. His pioneering role in the 2010s continues to shape how gaming content is made and consumed. Note that subscriber and view counts are updated over time.
1. What is PewDiePie's real name?
2. In what year was he born?
3. Where was he born?
- 1989: Born in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- 2006: Sets up first channel, PewDie.
- 2010: Creates the PewDiePie channel.
- August 15, 2013: Becomes the most-subscribed on YouTube.
- 2015 onward: Broadens into comedy, commentary, and vlogging.
SHORT SUMMARY: PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg, born 1989) is a Swedish YouTuber best known for gaming videos who became the most-subscribed creator on YouTube on August 15, 2013, and a defining figurehead of gaming culture.
MEDIUM SUMMARY: Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1989, Kjellberg set up his first YouTube channel, PewDie, in 2006, and after losing access to it created the PewDiePie channel in 2010, focusing on "Let's Play" gaming videos. His energetic commentary drove rapid growth, and on August 15, 2013, his channel became the most-subscribed on YouTube, surpassing Smosh. He later broadened into comedy, commentary, and vlogging while remaining a figurehead for YouTube gaming.
LONG SUMMARY: Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, born October 24, 1989, in Gothenburg, Sweden, and known as PewDiePie, is a Swedish YouTuber best known for his gaming videos, as well as his comedy sketches, satirical commentary, and lifestyle vlogging. He set up his first YouTube channel, PewDie, in 2006—"pew" being slang for the sound of a laser—and, after losing access to that account, returned to YouTube in 2010 to create the PewDiePie channel, focusing on gaming commentary and "Let's Play" videos in which he records his reactions via webcam and audio. His channel grew rapidly, and on August 15, 2013, it became the most-subscribed on YouTube, surpassing the channel Smosh; he held the top spot for a long period. Educated at Chalmers University of Technology, where he studied industrial economics and technology management, he became a figurehead for YouTube, especially in gaming, and one of the most-noted online personalities of the 2010s. He is married to Marzia Kjellberg. Note that subscriber and view counts are widely reported with varying estimates and change over time.
- 1.Established biographical references on Felix Kjellberg (e.g., Biography).
- 2.Reputable reporting on his YouTube career and milestones.
- 3.Coverage of his 2013 rise to most-subscribed on YouTube.
- 4.References on YouTube gaming culture.
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