Rooster Teeth, the production company behind the popular animated series RWBY and the Halo parody series Red vs Blue, is shutting down after 21 years of service.
Community Director of Rooster Teeth Chelsea announced the news through an official blog post, stating that the decision to shut down the company was made during an All Hands meeting.
In a memo left by Jordan Levin, the general manager of Rooster Teeth, the company is shutting down due to challenges facing digital media, such as fundamental shifts in consumer behavior and monetization across platforms, advertising, and patronage.
He also adds that the Roost team is not currently impacted by the action and that the Roost Podcast Network will continue to operate.
At the end of the memo, Jordan also celebrated the contributions of Rooster Teeth in digital and online content by recounting the journey of the company. He also mentions that Rooster Teeth shutting down is not merely an end, but also reflects broader business dynamics.
With Rooster Teeth shutting down, this is expected to result in the layoffs of around 150 full-time employees and throw dozens of contractors and content creators out of work, as reported by Variety.
Rooster Teeth now joins the recent ‘trend’ of media companies impacted by the ever-changing digital environment, with it becoming one of the unfortunate casualties among the layoffs that have affected various companies such as Sony, Microsoft, and Riot Games.