Warner Bros. has announced that they are shutting down Rooster Teeth, the production company responsible for memorable machinima-styled series Red vs. Blue. Rooster Teeth General Manager Jordan Levin broke the news via a memo reposted on the company’s official site, revealing the closure after 21 years operating in a “wildly volatile media industry.”
To elaborate, the shuttering of its doors is due to “challenges facing digital media resulting from fundamental shifts in consumer behavior and monetization across platforms, advertising, and patronage.” It’s an unfortunate turn of events, one that will impact roughly 150 full-time workers according to Variety, but it’s one that is all too common trend lately in the industries associated with various forms of media.
However, it isn’t all bad news. The Roost team remains unaffected, as the Roost Podcast Network will remain with Warner Bros. for now. The embedded podcasts, including Kinda Funny and RT Podcast, will proceed as a buyer for the network is secured. Per Dateline, Warner Bros. is also still committed to releasing a currently-unspecified Rooster Teeth-produced movie and is “exploring options” for other of Rooster Teeth’s content.
In a final touching note, Levin makes the following statement regarding their beloved Halo series:
Though not intentional, It’s only appropriate that our last season of ‘Red vs. Blue’ coincides with us navigating this closure together. 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.
