According to Deadline, subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, Rooster Teeth, is being shut down after 21 years. The process starts today and is expected to take several months to dissolve.
Jordan Levin (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville), Rooster Teeth’s general manager, announced the news in a company meeting and in an internal memo.
“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,” Levin said.
Though the production company is ending, The Roost Podcast Network will stay with the company “while WBD evaluates outside interest in acquiring this growing asset,” Levin said.
Rooster Teeth was founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns (Red vs. Blue, Minecraft: The Story of Mojang), Joel Heyman (The Strangerhood, RWBY), Matt Hullum (Gen:Lock, The Faculty), Geoff Ramsey (Blood Fest, Renaissance Man), Jason Saldaña (Bravo 2: Machinima Heroes, Bravo 3: The Machinima Legacy) and Gus Sorola (Lazer Team, Lazer Team 2).
Levins in his memo made sure to include how involved WBD was in assisting their projects. They continued their Digital Creators Program, which focused on supporting underrepresented talent.
According to Deadline, major contributions to why Rooster Teeth went under started with the consumer sponsorship model that failed to boost revenue as well as the allocation of their content shifting off of YouTube to their own personal site. There were also some companies interested in the brand, which brought up the possibility of selling, but those companies had their own difficulties to manage in the digital entertainment world.
“Monetization shifts, platform algorithms, advertising challenges, and the ebb and flow of patronage—all these converging factors have led to many closures in the industry,” Levin said.
“Warner Bros. Discovery thanks Rooster Teeth’s groundbreaking creators and partners, and the strong management team, for their many years of success,” the company said in a statement. “Your passionate and loyal fans are testament to your achievements.”
Levin discussed how Rooster Teeth were pioneers in their respected industry.
“We set a standard for what a digital-first brand could be,” he said. “We boldly took our content beyond screens and into community-driven experiences.”
The following is Levin’s memo:
“Dear” Rooster Teeth,
Since our founders created and uploaded their first video on the then-called World Wide Web in 2003, Rooster Teeth has been a source of creativity, laughter, and lasting innovation in the wildly volatile media industry.
We’ve read the headlines about industry-wide layoffs and closures, and you’ve heard me give my perspective and updates on the rapidly changing state of media and entertainment during each of our monthly All Hands meetings.
Since inheriting ownership and control of Rooster Teeth from AT&T following its acquisition of TimeWarner, Warner Bros. Discovery continued its investment in our company, content and community. Now however, 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.
Please note that the Roost team is not currently impacted by this action. The Roost Podcast Network will continue operating and fulfilling its obligations while WBD evaluates outside interest in acquiring this growing asset.
In the coming days and weeks, we will have many questions to answer and the opportunity to work together to implement the best way to wind things down for us and our community. We’re working through what comes next in real time, and we will be as open, direct, and accessible as possible. Thank you all in advance for your patience and support of one another.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate our 21-year contribution to the zeitgeist, advancing creativity and outlasting many of our peers from the early days of online video and digital-first content.
TO A CREATIVE LEGACY
From a garage in Buda, TX, to global screens large and small, our teams of dreamers and doers have introduced and grown what made Rooster Teeth stand out: animation, comedy, and gaming. From new forms of animated comedy with machinima to countless viral memes, including the Immortal Snail (aka Snail Assassin), to a US-born animated series embraced by Japan as anime, and record-breaking (at the time) crowdfunded movies. You’ve accomplished so much and made dreams come true here. You’ve turned original IP into video games, comic books, and VTubers. You’ve directed short videos, mo-cap, and films. You’ve puppeteered, hosted podcasts, and have built a thriving community that spans the globe. Your creativity knows no bounds, and you’ll continue contributing significantly to culture wherever your paths may take you.
TO THOSE WHO COME FIRST
Despite passing through many corporate owners, Rooster Teeth transcended a media business and was a dynamic movement that shaped the bond between communities, creators, and storytelling. Our founders didn’t have a blueprint for a media empire, but they got close to building one alongside a community that fueled its remarkable growth. In its earliest days, RT relied on community sponsorship through time, dollars, and unwavering passion. Volunteers evolved into staff, and the snowball effect grew, resulting in new relationships, marriages, births, and shared experiences that have changed lives.
TO TRAILBLAZING CONTENT CREATION
Our approach to content creation on emerging platforms paved the way for new media models. We inspired generations of creators across streaming, machinima, animation, let’s plays, merch drops, touring, podcasting, and more. Companies like GameStop, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, and TikTok asked us to collaborate with them in their earliest days because we set a standard for what a digital-first brand could be. We boldly took our content beyond screens and into community-driven experiences.
TO A CHANGING INDUSTRY
Every story reaches its final pages. Rooster Teeth’s closure isn’t merely an end; it reflects broader business dynamics. Monetization shifts, platform algorithms, advertising challenges, and the ebb and flow of patronage—all these converging factors have led to many closures in the industry. While we learn about updates on programming day by day, we will share our plans for shows, franchises, partnerships, and merch soon and share those updates with teams internally and with the community on RoosterTeeth.com.
TO OUR FINAL SEASON
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.
With respect, gratitude, and sincere appreciation,
Jordan “Levin”