The veteran YouTuber made the announcement in a video uploaded to The Game Theorists channel, titled Goodbye Internet.
The video, uploaded on January 9, 2024, features MatPat – real name Matthew Patrick – explaining that he will be hosting his last Theory episode on March 9, at which point he’ll be passing on the reigns to others.
Mat uploaded his first video in 2011, with his most popular series, by far, being the one in which he talks about the Five Nights At Freddy’s game franchise (he even made a cameo in the 2023 movie). Thirteen years later, he’s grown his YouTube presence to include an additional four channels: The Style Theorists, GTLive, The Film Theorists and The Food Theorists.
Goodbye Internet. (Photo Credit: The Game Theorists / YouTube)
“This has been a literal third of my life and I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss this,” he says in the video while holding back tears. “I value what we have here. I value this conversation, this openness, this relationship that we share, and I’m sad that I won’t be able to see you every week.”
Mat went on to explain that he and his wife, Stephanie, had known this moment was coming for a few years now, just not exactly when. In preparation, they bulked up their team and, in 2022, sold Theory Media, the official name of their company, to the United Kingdom-based start-up, Lunar X.
“I don’t love late nights,” he explains when discussing why he’s retiring. “I don’t love the fact that Steph and I have been work first for over a decade.” He adds that he and the internet are changing and that he’d much prefer to leave while his network of channels are on a high, rather than when they’ve fallen into obscurity.
Goodbye Internet. (Photo Credit: The Game Theorists / YouTube)
In the lead-up to Mat’s last episode, Theory episode will continue to be hosted by him, with the YouTuber revisiting some old favourites. After that, the Theorist channels will be hosted by individuals who aren’t all that new to regular viewers:
- Lee Collins will be taking over as host of The Film Theorists.
- The Style Theorists will be taken over by Amy Roberts.
- Santiago “Santi” Massa will be taking the reigns of The Food Theorists.
- Tom Robinson will be the permanent host of The Game Theorists.
In terms of what’s next for Mat, he’ll continue to appear of GTLive for the foreseeable future, with him stating that he plans to remain there until at least the end of the summer. He’ll still be involved in the content uploaded to the five channels, working with the creative directors to brainstorm new programs.
On top of this, Mat is working on a new low-fi mystery series; will be hosting the Creators in Fashion show on The Style Theorists this April; and wants to pursue an animated series and a video game concept.
“I love you, guys. I do. You’re not just numbers. You’re not just ad impressions. You’re not just merch sales. What you have done for me and, from everyone I talk to, what I’ve done for you, is special,” he said toward the end of the video.
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