Warner Bros shuts down the studio, but keeps the podcast network up and running...
Red vs Blue‘s Rooster Teeth will be shut down, with Warner Bros Discovery shelving the studio but opting to keep The Roost Podcast Network up and running.
According to reporting from Deadline, the shut down will take several months and begins today.
“It’s with a heavy heart I announce that Rooster Teeth is shutting down due to challenges facing digital media resulting from fundamental shifts in consumer behavior and monetization across platforms, advertising, and patronage,” general manager Jordan Levin wrote in a memo to employees.
“Please note that the Roost team is not currently impacted by this action,” Levin added. “The Roost Podcast Network will continue operating and fulfilling its obligations while WBD evaluates outside interest in acquiring this growing asset.”
Levin noted that it was “appropriate”, though not intentional, that Rooster Teeth’s closure came at the same time as Red vs Blue‘s final season.
“Though not intentional, It’s only appropriate that our last season of ‘Red vs. Blue’ coincides with us navigating this closure together,” Levin wrote .”Our legacy is not just a collection of content but a history of pixels burned into our screens, minds, and hearts. Rooster Teeth has made an indelible mark on the media industry, and we should be so proud of the countless ways we pioneered a business connecting creators and content with a dedicated community.”
Rooster Teeth was founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman. It’s been owned by numerous organisations including Fullscreen, Otter Media, TimeWarner, and Warner Bros Discovery.
On a personal note, I consider myself friendly with many current and former staff over at Rooster Teeth, and I wish those impacted by this decision all the best. On that, here’s that one time I appeared as an awkward as all hell guest host on The Know alongside the consumate professional that is Ashley Burns.
If you’re feeling more nostalgic, you can listen to a Friendly Fire Show podcast episode from way back in 2013 featuring Gus Sorola, Burnie Burns, and Jack Pattillo.
More than 7,000 layoffs have rocked the video games industry in 2024 alone. Impacted developers and publishers over 2023 and 2024 include PlayStation, Microsoft, Deck Nine, Supermassive Games, Devolver, Eidos-Montreal, Riot Games, Thunderful Embracer and Gearbox, Twitch (again), Unity, Codemasters, 505 Games’ Digital Bros, Amazon, Bungie, Media Molecule, Ubisoft, Aussie studio League of Geeks, Versus Evil and many more.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
