Rooster Teeth

Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC

Company type	Subsidiary (formerly)
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2003 (2003)
Founder	Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, Joel Heyman
Defunct	May 15, 2024 (2024-05-15)
Fate	Ceased operations; brand reacquired by Burnie Burns via Box Canyon Productions in 2025
Headquarters	Austin , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Burnie Burns (founder), Jordan Levin (former general manager), Ezra Cooperstein (former president)
Products	Web series, live-action shorts, animated productions, podcasts, video games, feature films
Owner	Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment (until 2024); Box Canyon Productions (from 2025)
Number of employees	Over 90 (as of 2014)

Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC was a U.S.-based entertainment company with its headquarters located in Austin, Texas. Established in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman, Rooster Teeth functioned as a subsidiary under Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment.

Their inaugural project, Red vs. Blue, premiered in April 2003 and became one of the longest-running episodic series on the web. To manage expenses related to servers and hosting, the founders introduced a "Sponsorship" model, which later evolved into "FIRST," a subscription-based service providing access to exclusive content and discounts on merchandise. Over time, the company broadened its offerings to include live-action shorts and series, comedy sketches, Let's Play videos, fully animated productions, reality programming, video game creation, entertainment news shows, and podcasts. In 2015, Rooster Teeth debuted its first full-length feature film, the sci-fi action comedy Lazer Team. Additionally, from 2011 through 2023, Rooster Teeth organized the annual RTX convention in Austin, with supplementary events held in Sydney and London.

Rooster Teeth delivered its content through its own website and mobile application, while podcasts and Let's Play videos were also shared via YouTube. By September 2021, their main YouTube channel had amassed over 9 million subscribers and more than 6 billion views; collectively, all associated channels exceeded 45 million subscribers.

On March 6, 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery announced the closure of Rooster Teeth. Subsequently, the FIRST subscription program and website ceased operations on May 15, 2024. In February 2025, founder Burnie Burns reacquired the Rooster Teeth brand along with select intellectual properties through his company Box Canyon Productions.

History

While studying at the University of Texas at Austin, Burnie Burns and Matt Hullum collaborated with actor Joel Heyman on The Schedule, an independent film released in 1997. Although it achieved limited success, this project helped Hullum and Heyman secure employment opportunities in Los Angeles. Later on, Burns met Geoff Ramsey, Gustavo Sorola, Dan Godwin, and Jason Saldaña during his tenure at Telenetwork; together they launched drunkgamers.com, a site focused on informal video game reviews. Their unconventional style made it difficult to obtain complimentary games for review.

An early notable work was a live-action spoof of Apple's Switch ad campaign that emphasized the lack of games available for the Apple Macintosh platform. Gustavo Sorola starred in this piece, accompanied by Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" as background music. To enhance professionalism and attract sponsorships, the team renamed their podcast from 'Drunk Tank Podcast' to 'Rooster Teeth Podcast,' signaling an intention to broaden their content range. The term "Rooster Teeth" originated from an inside joke featured in the original trailer for Red vs. Blue, becoming a distinctive brand identifier.

Burns highlighted a guiding principle: creating content that they themselves would enjoy watching, fostering genuine engagement appreciated by their audience. As of 2017, production expenses per episode varied between $15,000 and $100,000.

The company's revenue model incorporated subscriptions, preroll advertisements on both their platform and YouTube channels, licensed productions, branded merchandise sales, and annual live events to generate multiple income streams.

Rooster Teeth attributes much of its success to cultivating an active community website and initially approached YouTube cautiously due to viewing it as a rival platform. In 2014, Rooster Teeth centralized operations by relocating over ninety staff members into Stage 5 at Austin Studios under a two-year lease agreement.

Acquisition by Fullscreen

In November 2014, Fullscreen acquired Rooster Teeth for an undisclosed sum, aiming to provide the company with enhanced "resources and tools" to better compete against leading content creators such as Netflix, HBO, and Amazon. By February 2015, Rooster Teeth had opened an office in Los Angeles and introduced a new division named Funhaus. That same year marked the release of their first feature film, the science fiction comedy Lazer Team.

The year 2016 saw Rooster Teeth broaden its executive leadership to accelerate audience expansion. Luis Medina was appointed senior VP of Partnerships, Evan Bregman took on the role of Director of Programming, and Ryan P. Hall became Head of Development. Medina co-led the Let's Play segment, which encompassed Achievement Hunter and Funhaus, while also managing brand collaborations. Bregman concentrated on programming strategies across multiple platforms including apps, YouTube, and Facebook. Hall was responsible for overseeing content development and talent acquisition.

Rooster Teeth consistently participates in the annual gaming charity event Extra Life, raising funds for Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. Their contributions reached $1.2 million in 2017, $1.4 million in 2018, $1.2 million in 2019, and $1.16 million during a shortened 2020 stream due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 26, 2018, Ezra Cooperstein—previously Fullscreen’s COO—was named President of Rooster Teeth.

In May 2018, Rooster Teeth tested five pilot programs: Branded, Gorq's Quest, Achievement Haunter, Million Dollars, But ... Animated, and Rooster Teeth's Murder Room. Additionally, they announced Spikeface, a new 2D dark comedy co-produced alongside Rob McElhenney and RCG Productions.

Under Otter Media

December 2018 brought a reorganization by Otter Media that merged Rooster Teeth with Crunchyroll and VRV under the Ellation banner to streamline sales efforts related to advertising and partnerships. Otter Media CEO Tony Goncalves highlighted the importance of preserving Rooster Teeth’s unique brand identity while enhancing content quality. During this restructuring, Machinima was absorbed into Fullscreen.

On December 18, 2018, Rooster Teeth expanded its offerings by partnering with animation channels CypherDen and Flashgitz, debuting fresh content on Rooster Teeth First.

Under WarnerMedia

Rooster Teeth experienced leadership changes early in 2019 with COO Yvonne Secretan retiring on January 31 and President Ezra Cooperstein stepping down in April. In September that year, approximately 50 employees—about 13% of the workforce—were laid off amid organizational restructuring. Jordan Levin was soon appointed general manager while founders Matt Hullum, Burnie Burns, and Geoff Ramsey transitioned into creative leadership positions to support strategic management.

In December 2019, Doreen Copeland joined as VP and Head of Production. Joe Clary and Sean Hinz were named Co-Heads of Animation to manage daily operations under Copeland’s oversight. In June 2020, co-founder Joel Heyman was laid off; Burnie Burns resigned but retained a first-look agreement.

August 2020 marked the beginning of an internal review of Rooster Teeth’s digital content library as part of an initiative focused on diversity and inclusion.

By April 2021, reports emerged that AT&T contemplated selling Rooster Teeth following a revenue drop of $20 million in 2019; however, no sale transpired. The company became part of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger finalized in April 2022.

In March 2022, Rooster Teeth collaborated with WarnerMedia Access to launch the Rooster Teeth Digital Creators Program aimed at supporting underrepresented creators, reaffirming its dedication to business growth and expanding market presence.

20th anniversary

On April 1, 2023, Rooster Teeth marked its 20th year with a 20-week initiative showcasing rare content, special episodes, and beloved fan selections, culminating in the 2023 RTX Convention held in Austin. As part of this milestone, the company underwent a rebranding effort, replacing its previous rooster emblem and novelty teeth with a sleek, stylized "R" inspired by a rooster. The color palette shifted from the traditional red and black to a new combination of red and blue. Alongside this visual update, the company adopted the new tagline "Just Playing."

Closure

General manager Jordan Levin announced on March 6, 2024, that Rooster Teeth would gradually cease operations over several months due to significant changes in consumer habits and revenue models. The subscriber base for its "First" service had diminished to roughly 25% of its highest level. The company had experienced financial losses for ten consecutive years. Warner Bros. Discovery intended to maintain the Roost Podcast Network while exploring potential buyers and evaluating interest in prominent intellectual properties such as RWBY, Red vs. Blue, and Gen:Lock. By April 2024, the Roost Podcast Network was acquired by talent management company Night, and in July 2024, Viz Media purchased the RWBY franchise.

By May 10, 2024, most staff members had exited, with the website updated to display a final message on May 15. A minimal crew remained to oversee shutdown procedures and facilitate transferring content archives to YouTube where feasible. After closure, several former employees and associated talent collaborated to establish new ventures.

Legacy

On February 5, 2025, Burns reacquired the Rooster Teeth brand along with select intellectual properties through his enterprise Box Canyon Productions. His plans include reviving certain Rooster Teeth projects, producing a "reimagined" version of his debut film The Schedule, as well as launching a new audio series titled Again.

Rooster Teeth Animation

Established in 2014 under Gray Haddock’s leadership, Rooster Teeth Animation broadened its creative output during his tenure. On December 13, 2019, Joe Clary and Sean Hinz were elevated to co-head positions following Haddock’s departure.

Red vs. Blue

This series parodies science fiction and military tropes by depicting two opposing soldier teams stationed in an isolated canyon. Initially intended as a short run of six to eight episodes, its swift surge in popularity—achieving 20,000 downloads within a single day—cemented Rooster Teeth’s influence in the market and led to an extended narrative arc.

RWBY

RWBY (pronounced "Ruby") is an anime-inspired computer-animated web series created and directed by Monty Oum, with writing contributions from Miles Luna and Kerry Shawcross. Its premiere episode debuted at RTX 2013 before being published on Rooster Teeth’s platform on July 18, 2013. Set within the realm of Remnant, the plot centers on humanity’s struggle against supernatural entities known as "Creatures of Grimm," utilizing mystical Dust as a power source.

Monty Oum, the visionary founder behind RWBY, passed away in 2015 due to medical complications; however, the series has continued under subsequent leadership. The franchise also includes RWBY Chibi, a comedic spin-off featuring chibi-style renditions of main characters.

In July 2024, Viz Media acquired the rights to the RWBY franchise, aiming for strategic expansion through ongoing production led by showrunner Kerry Shawcross—a former key executive at Rooster Teeth. Viz Media intends to grow global reach by broadening merchandise lines and distributing the series via streaming services and home video platforms, capitalizing on the brand’s established market presence and commercial potential.

Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures

The inaugural episode of Rooster Teeth Animated Adventures (initially titled Drunk Tank Animated Adventures) was launched by Jordan Cwierz in July 2010. This series featured animations inspired by anecdotes shared on the Rooster Teeth Podcast. By October 2011, Cwierz had been brought on board full-time to develop these animated shorts as an integral extension of the podcast’s content offerings.

On October 8, 2014, Rooster Teeth introduced Let's Play Minimations, a series showcasing animated highlights from Achievement Hunter's Let's Play videos. The initial episodes employed 3D animation styles reminiscent of Minecraft, later incorporating machinima created using footage from Grand Theft Auto V.

Camp Camp

First revealed on April 1, 2016, and premiering on June 10, 2016, Camp Camp became a prominent feature of Rooster Teeth’s Summer of Animation initiative. Developed by Jordan Cwierz and Miles Luna, the show centers on Max—voiced by Michael Jones—who attends a summer camp where he and his companions frequently prank their counselor David, portrayed by Miles Luna. The series is released every Friday for Rooster Teeth First subscribers and becomes available to all site members on Saturdays.

Thanks to a strong positive response, the debut season was extended to include 12 episodes. Benjamin Zecker composed the musical score, while Miles Luna contributed to the theme songs. A combined DVD/Blu-ray set containing seasons one and two was issued on May 22, 2018. Season three premiered shortly after on May 25, 2018, followed by season four’s launch on June 1, 2019. At RTX 2023, Rooster Teeth confirmed that new episodes would resume on March 1, 2024.

gen:LOCK

During RTX Austin in 2017, Rooster Teeth Animation unveiled gen:LOCK, a mecha-themed action drama created by Gray G. Haddock, known for his work on RWBY. Originally planned for a late 2018 release, its debut was postponed until January 2019. The series stars Michael B. Jordan as Julian Chase, the lead character; Jordan also served as co-producer through his Outlier Society Productions.

The first season of gen:LOCK premiered on January 26, 2019, concluding on March 9. On October 24, 2019, the show was renewed for a second season that premiered on HBO Max on November 4, 2021, wrapping up on December 23. This production exemplifies Rooster Teeth’s strategic move into high-profile animation projects featuring celebrity collaborations to broaden their market presence and strengthen brand influence within the competitive entertainment landscape.

Others

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 2004, Rooster Teeth identified The Sims 2 as an ideal platform for a parody of reality television. With authorization from publisher Electronic Arts, they developed The Strangerhood, a comedic series about eight strangers awakening with no recollection of their environment. The initial season consisted of 17 episodes and concluded on April 27, 2006. In collaboration with Paul Marino, Rooster Teeth produced Strangerhood Studios in 2005—a spin-off commissioned by the Independent Film Channel. This marked the first machinima series created specifically for broadcast and earned Best Editing at the Machinima Film Festival that year. The second season debuted on September 29, 2015, funded through the Lazer Team Indiegogo campaign.

In partnership with Maybeck Productions in 2006, Rooster Teeth produced PANICS, a short machinima series set within the world of F.E.A.R.. It follows soldiers investigating supernatural phenomena and released four episodes between September and October of 2005; additionally, a prequel was included in the F.E.A.R. – Director's Edition. The mini-series received Best Writing honors at the Machinima Film Festival in 2005. Other machinima endeavors include 1-800-Magic (2006), utilizing footage from Shadowrun, and Supreme Surrender (2008), based on gameplay from Supreme Commander. On February 13, 2017, Rooster Teeth unveiled a teaser for their animated project Sex Swing, featuring talent from their Funhaus division.

At RTX 2014, Rooster Teeth announced an animated series titled X-Ray and Vav, starring Ray Narvaez, Jr. as X-Ray alongside Gavin Free as Vav. Directed by Lindsay Jones and Jordan Cwierz with art direction by Patrick Rodriguez, its first episode premiered on November 27, 2014. The second season launched on July 19, 2015; new cast members included Michael Jones as Mogar, Jessica DiCicco as Ash Samaya, and Ryan Haywood as The Mad King. Ray Narvaez later opted out of participating in a third season after expressing contentment with Season Two’s conclusion.

On March 16, 2018, Rooster Teeth First released Nomad of Nowhere, a western-fantasy animated series created by Georden Whitman that follows a mute wanderer possessing magical powers.

On February 15, 2019, Rooster Teeth announced a collaboration with Hasbro to develop an animated series based on the Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy toyline for release on Netflix in 2020.

Rooster Teeth Shorts

Rooster Teeth ventured into live-action content in 2009 with the mini-series Captain Dynamic, created to promote the online game City of Heroes. Directed by Matt Hullum and penned by co-founder Burnie Burns, the series featured Ed Robertson from the band Barenaked Ladies, along with Rooster Teeth team members such as Joel Heyman and Shannon McCormick. This project also inspired the release of an iPhone application named the Awesome Button.

Building on the success of Captain Dynamic, Rooster Teeth developed Rooster Teeth Shorts, a sketch comedy series that humorously depicted life at their office. The cast included employees portraying exaggerated versions of themselves, as well as voice actors from their machinima productions. The inaugural season consisted of twenty episodes, which were later compiled on DVD along with Captain Dynamic.

The second season began airing on April 23, 2010, with weekly installments continuing until a break in July to concentrate efforts on Red vs. Blue. Production resumed in August, culminating in a total of 24 episodes and a DVD release in December. For the third season launch, Rooster Teeth partnered with the creators of Mega64 to produce four special episodes.

In the middle of season four, Burns announced that Rooster Teeth Shorts would be discontinued to allocate resources toward new projects. Nevertheless, on April 1, 2013—marking the company's tenth anniversary—the series was revived for a fifth season, premiering with an episode titled Reunion.

On August 22, 2013, Rooster Teeth broadened its digital outreach by debuting six brief six-second episodes exclusively on Vine, followed by additional batches released in September, October, and November of that year.

Immersion

The series Immersion features Burnie Burns and Gus Sorola (with Griffon Ramsey participating in season one) experimenting with video game mechanics in real-world scenarios, such as evaluating how multiplayer taunting affects soldiers' effectiveness. Burns described the show as an "elaborate way to do fun stuff and get paid." In season one, Geoff Ramsey and Gus Sorola served as test participants; from season two onward, Gavin Free and Michael Jones took over these roles. Other Rooster Teeth personnel like Miles Luna and Kerry Shawcross also appeared.

Following a teaser at PAX East 2010, production was confirmed later that year. To promote its debut, Rooster Teeth converted an office door into a Left 4 Dead safe-room door replica, which attracted considerable attention on Reddit. The first season wrapped up with seven episodes by January 2011.

After a five-month break, Immersion returned in June 2011 with an episode filmed during RTX featuring Geoff Ramsey and Gus Sorola defending against approximately 400 zombie participants. Burns revealed at Supanova Sydney that a second season was underway, with Gavin Free and Michael Jones replacing previous test subjects. Production commenced in 2013 amid interest from television networks for potential distribution.

A third season was announced at RTX 2015 and premiered in November of that year. Significantly, on August 3, 2019, Burns, Free, and Jones appeared in an Immersion episode for Discovery Channel's Shark Week, which included mechanical shark demonstrations and diving alongside sharks guided by expert Luke Tipple. This episode is accessible via Discovery's streaming platform.

The Slow Mo Guys

Originating from Thame, England, The Slow Mo Guys is a web series centered on science and technology entertainment, created by Gavin Free and featuring both him and Daniel Gruchy. The show captures a diverse range of subjects using Vision Research Phantom high-speed cameras, capable of filming at speeds exceeding 1,500,000 frames per second to achieve extreme slow-motion effects. The series debuted on October 15, 2010, and was later acquired by Rooster Teeth in 2013, which expanded its availability to Rooster Teeth’s platform alongside YouTube. A curated best-of collection was issued for home viewing in September 2013.

Day 5

Presented at RTX 2012, the post-apocalyptic mini-series Day 5 enlisted 1,800 fans as extras. It narrates the struggle of a man attempting to remain awake after a virus causes death upon falling asleep. The trailer premiered at RTX 2014. While the core concept stayed intact, the storyline and characters underwent substantial revisions thereafter. Filming commenced in March 2016 with the cast revealed that same month. The initial episode was released on June 19, 2016, across Rooster Teeth’s website and YouTube; following episodes were exclusively available to Rooster Teeth FIRST subscribers, marking the company’s inaugural premium-only series. The first season wrapped up on July 31, 2016. In February 2017, a second season was announced alongside another Rooster Teeth production, Camp Camp.

Million Dollars, But ...

Million Dollars, But ... is a Rooster Teeth production where cast members or guests propose difficult hypothetical situations they would endure for a million dollars, often humorously acted out. The original lineup included Burnie Burns, Gavin Free, and Barbara Dunkelman, with subsequent seasons featuring a broader cast. The pilot episode aired on May 21, 2015, followed by regular episodes starting July 9, 2015. The series also features themed specials such as those focusing on animation. Leveraging its success, Rooster Teeth launched a Million Dollars, But... card game through Kickstarter, which surpassed its $10,000 goal within two minutes and eventually raised over $1 million. The game became available in mid-June 2016.

On the Spot

Rooster Teeth’s improvisational game show On the Spot divides cast and crew into two competing teams engaging in various challenges judged by host Jon Risinger. Victors receive a golden trophy modeled after Gustavo Sorola called "The Golden Gus," which now resides permanently on Risinger’s desk due to repeated damage during gameplay. The program’s comedic style is marked by unpredictable interactions and whimsical scoring decisions from both host and production staff. To keep the format fresh, recent seasons have adopted distinct themes: "On the Spot goes to Hell!" explores an infernal setting; "On the Spot: Lost in Time" delves into historical eras; "On the Spot: The Happy Room" offers family-friendly educational content; and "On the Spot and Chill" embraces a television show motif.

Commercial and external partners

In 2014, Rooster Teeth introduced Happy Hour, a bi-weekly series chronicling the exploits of Geoff Ramsey, Gavin Free, and Griffon Ramsey; this series concluded in September 2017.

That same year saw the debut of Social Disorder, a social experiment game show starring Chris Demarais and Aaron Marquis competing for points via public interactions. Its premiere episode titled The Body Bag Experiment aired on September 15, 2014.

Released in September 2016, Crunch Time depicted university students creating technology to enter others’ dreams. The cast included Samm Levine (known for Freaks and Geeks, Inglourious Basterds), Nick Rutherford, Jessy Hodges, Kirk C. Johnson (from Rooster Teeth's Lazer Team), comedian Brent Morin, and Michael Hyatt (from True Detective).

In October 2012, Rooster Teeth partnered with Blip to launch The Gauntlet, a reality competition series spanning ten episodes sponsored by GEICO. Contestants faced skill-based challenges inspired by shows like Wipeout and The Voice. Ali Baker and Burnie Burns hosted season one; season two began in September 2013 with Burns joined by Joel Heyman as hosts.

Beginning in 2014, Miles Luna and Kyle Taylor produced gameplay content initially titled Sponsor Play, later renamed Backwardz Compatible in 2016 following changes in sponsorship structure. This series showcased playthroughs of games including Fatal Frame, Resident Evil 7, Sonic Adventure 2, Alien: Isolation, and Dark Souls III.

On September 27, 2015, Rooster Teeth premiered RT-ES (Rooster Teeth Entertainment System) exclusively for First members. Produced in Los Angeles and hosted by Colton Dunn, this sketch comedy program combined interviews, topical discussions, sketches, music performances, and games. Following audience feedback analysis, Burnie Burns announced that the show would enter hiatus to enable refinement of future content.

Commercial projects

In 2006, Rooster Teeth was commissioned by Electronic Arts to produce television commercials for several EA Sports franchises, including Madden NFL 07 and NCAA Football 07. Some of these advertisements were made accessible on Rooster Teeth’s official website. A dispute emerged when Dallas Clark, tight end for the Indianapolis Colts, expressed dissatisfaction with his depiction in a Madden NFL 07 commercial. In response, Rooster Teeth issued a director's cut version highlighting Clark’s excellence across all positions.

Additionally, Rooster Teeth developed a promotional trailer for Loadout, a free-to-play PC title created by the Austin-based studio Edge of Reality.

Film endeavors

In February 2014, Burns revealed plans to launch a crowdfunding initiative aimed at financing Rooster Teeth’s feature film aspirations and boosting public awareness. The Indiegogo campaign for Lazer Team, which commenced in June 2014, rapidly exceeded its $650,000 target within just 11 hours and ultimately amassed close to $2.5 million, ranking it among the most successful film campaigns on the platform.

Filming started in October 2014. The movie debuted at Fantastic Fest in September 2015 to favorable critiques and was theatrically released on January 27, 2016.

On August 5, 2016, Burns and Free announced that Lazer Team 2 had received approval to proceed, with YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium) providing financing for the sequel. Production was carried out in Texas during spring 2017, with Daniel Fabelo co-directing alongside Matt Hullum. The cast featured Nichole Bloom and Victoria Pratt. Filming concluded in April 2017.

During RTX Austin 2017, Rooster Teeth introduced Blood Fest, a horror-comedy directed by Owen Egerton. The film starred Seychelle Gabriel, Robbie Kay, Jacob Batalon, Zachary Levi, Barbara Dunkelman, Nick Rutherford, and Tate Donovan.

Rooster Teeth vs. Zombiens

Developed by Team Chaos, Rooster Teeth vs. Zombiens centered on Rooster Teeth employees combating zombies within their office and parking areas. The game was accessible on iOS, Android, and Steam platforms but has since been removed from mobile app stores.

RWBY: Grimm Eclipse

At RTX 2014, Rooster Teeth unveiled their inaugural internally developed video game titled RWBY: Grimm Eclipse, presenting an early demo during the event. CEO Matt Hullum highlighted the company’s dedication to maintaining the creative vision and design quality that established the success of the RWBY series.

Originally created as a fangame by Jordan Scott and released as a demo in April 2014 to celebrate Rooster Teeth's 11th anniversary, it was characterized as a survival-focused action RPG set within the RWBY universe. Scott did not intend to continue development beyond the initial demo.

The title entered Steam Early Access on December 1, 2015, following swift approval through Steam Greenlight, marking an important milestone in Rooster Teeth’s venture into gaming products and related services.

Vicious Circle

The game Vicious Circle was revealed during episode 526 of the Rooster Teeth Podcast by Burnie Burns and Gus Sorola. As Rooster Teeth's inaugural original intellectual property, it is an uncooperative multiplayer shooter that launched on August 13, 2019, through Steam.

Achievement Hunter

Achievement Hunter was established in 2008 by Geoff Ramsey and Jack Pattillo amid the production of season 6 of Red vs. Blue. It has grown into a significant division within Rooster Teeth. Drawing inspiration from the Xbox 360’s achievement system, Achievement Hunter produces gameplay content featuring a core group of Rooster Teeth staff. The team also played a role in the LetsPlay channel and previously managed the GameFails and LetsPlay Community channels, which have since been archived. On September 18, 2023, Rooster Teeth announced that Achievement Hunter would shift to an archive-only channel, with its members moving on to other ventures.

LetsPlay

The LetsPlay channel mainly showcases gameplay videos created by Achievement Hunter and has fulfilled various functions since its inception.

LetsPlay Network

The LetsPlay Network functioned as a multi-channel network (MCN) under Rooster Teeth’s management. Founded by co-founder Geoff Ramsey and overseen alongside Luis Medina, it partnered with numerous YouTube channels—including Achievement Hunter and Funhaus—to offer merchandising, promotional support, and additional benefits.

In 2016, LetsPlay expanded its collaborations by partnering with Kinda Funny and The Creatures, integrating their content and merchandise into Rooster Teeth’s platform. Channels such as Cow Chop and Game Attack, originally part of ScrewAttack, also joined the network and were featured with dedicated sections on Rooster Teeth’s website. In May 2017, a strategic alliance with Ubisoft was announced, delivering exclusive gameplay videos from LetsPlay members on Ubisoft’s US YouTube channel.

Further creators like JT Machinima (now JT Music), NoahJ456, LazarBeam, and Sugar Pine 7 became part of the network in 2017, broadening its audience and merchandise lineup. However, The Creatures disbanded by mid-2017, ending their collaboration with Rooster Teeth. Cow Chop ceased operations at the close of 2019; Sugar Pine 7 exited in May 2019; and Game Attack also separated from Rooster Teeth that same year.

Following these changes, content from The Creatures and Game Attack was removed from Rooster Teeth’s site; meanwhile, Cow Chop and Sugar Pine 7 were reclassified under the "Friends of RT" category. Rooster Teeth maintains ongoing partnerships with Kinda Funny and JT Music and has established a similar agreement with UK-based The Yogscast—including a dedicated website section—but the LetsPlay Network brand itself has mostly been discontinued. Presently, the channel primarily functions as Achievement Hunter’s platform for gameplay content.

Inside Gaming

Inside Gaming served as Rooster Teeth’s division for gaming news coverage. Originally launched as The Know, it focused on entertainment updates spanning movies, television, gaming, technology, and media. Hosted mainly by Ashley Jenkins and Brian Gaar alongside other Rooster Teeth personnel, it evolved from a single news program on Rooster Teeth’s main YouTube channel into an independent channel featuring multiple categories related to entertainment and technology news. Its latest show, Glitch Please, succeeded the earlier podcast The Patch after six pilot episodes.

Previously, The Know aired programs including Leaderboard, which covered esports news hosted by Meg Turney, along with The Patch Game Club and Screen Play, a podcast centered on film and television. Turney departed Rooster Teeth in June 2016 to concentrate on cosplay endeavors.

In October 2017, Eric Vespe joined The Know as senior writer, bringing two decades of experience from Ain't It Cool News, which enhanced original reporting capabilities and development of entertainment programming.

On February 14, 2019, Rooster Teeth revived Machinima’s Inside Gaming brand by rebranding The Know under this name. This merger combined The Know’s team with Machinima’s social media staff into Inside Gaming. Hosting duties were handled by Lawrence Sonntag, Adam Kovic, Bruce Greene, and Alanah Pearce from Funhaus. The division concentrated on gaming news coverage, feature stories, and reviews. Greene and Sonntag left in 2019; Autumn Farrell replaced Sonntag but departed alongside Pearce in October 2020. On January 5, 2021, Rooster Teeth announced the cessation of daily Inside Gaming broadcasts; hosts transitioned to Funhaus while weekend summary shows continued airing.

Game Kids

Game Kids operated as a children's entertainment channel, launching in 2014 and ceasing operations in 2016.

Funhaus

Funhaus, a Los Angeles-based division of Rooster Teeth Productions, debuted on February 16, 2015. It was founded by former members of Inside Gaming including Adam Kovic, James Willems, Bruce Greene, Lawrence Sonntag, Matt Peake, Sean "Spoole" Poole, and Joel Rubin. The team expanded in 2015 by adding former GameTrailers personality Elyse Willems and later welcomed ex-IGN presenter Alanah Pearce in 2018. The channel's content centered on gameplay videos akin to Achievement Hunter's style and featured shows such as the Q&A series Open Haus, Google Trends segments, podcasts like Dude Soup and Film Haus, as well as gameplay-focused series including Demo Disk and Wheelhaus. Additionally, Funhaus produced original programming for Rooster Teeth TV, including titles like "No Idea", "Arizona Circle", and "Last Laugh".

Significant leadership changes occurred over time: Poole and Rubin departed in 2016; Greene and Sonntag left in 2019. Kovic exited in October 2020 following a violation of company policies, with Pearce announcing her departure soon thereafter. These transitions affected Funhaus's strategic role within Rooster Teeth’s overall organizational framework.

Death Battle

Death Battle began in 2010 as a web series created by ScrewAttack and quickly rose to become its flagship program, leading the company to rebrand around it in 2019. After being acquired by Rooster Teeth, ScrewAttack's content was integrated into Rooster Teeth’s platform. In 2020, a promotional episode sponsored by Amazon Prime Video was released to promote the second season of The Boys, demonstrating strategic brand collaboration.

Rooster Teeth managed Death Battle until 2024 when Warner Bros. Discovery closed the studio. Following this closure, Death Battle continued independently under new ownership, maintaining its presence in the market beyond Rooster Teeth’s shutdown.

Events

Since 2005, numerous community-organized events have taken place regularly, including RvBTO in Toronto (later succeeded by Toronto:Unconventional), RvBCanWest in Vancouver, RT Philly in Philadelphia, RooTeeth in Melbourne, and SideQuest in Austin. These gatherings played a key role in expanding the company's influence and fostering community involvement. In February 2011, Sorola announced RTX as the company’s first official fan event, marking a deliberate effort to broaden brand reach. Burns attributed RTX’s origin to these early Canadian fan conventions, emphasizing their importance to the company’s growth strategy and community-centric business approach.

RTX

Rooster Teeth introduced their inaugural official fan event in May 2011 in Austin, Texas. Initially planned for an audience of 200 attendees, ticket demand rapidly exceeded expectations with over 500 sold within minutes. Starting with RTX 2012 at the Austin Convention Center, attendance grew from approximately 5,000 to 45,000 by 2015. RTX London was announced in February 2017 and took place that October. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, RTX 2020 adapted to a virtual format titled "RTX at Home," held from September 15 through 25.

Let's Play Live

Let's Play Live is Rooster Teeth's live performance series showcasing Achievement Hunter and Let's Play team members engaging in video game playthroughs and comedic sketches in front of live audiences. The first event was held on February 20, 2015, at Austin's Moody Theater. Beginning in 2016, the tour expanded to multiple cities across North America. The show made a return to Austin shortly before RTX 2018, further solidifying Rooster Teeth's footprint in live entertainment and broadening its audience base.

Rooster Teeth Podcast

Originally launched as the Drunk Tank podcast on December 9, 2008, it was rebranded to the Rooster Teeth Podcast in 2011 to better appeal to advertisers. Released on a weekly basis, it has been recognized as the top downloaded podcast on iTunes and earned Best Gaming Podcast honors at the Podcast Awards in both 2013 and 2014. By May 2023, the podcast had surpassed 750 episodes and adopted a multi-segment format featuring new hosts.

The Roost

Rooster Teeth introduced The Roost podcast network in June 2017, representing creators such as h3h3Productions, Game Grumps, Shane Dawson, Getting Doug With High by Doug Benson, Tiny Meat Gang by Cody Ko and Noel Miller, along with The Valleyfolk. In July 2018, The Last Podcast on the Left joined the network. By September of that year, The Roost partnered with Hello Sunshine to support podcasts from The Beam network.

A.J Feliciano took over as head of The Roost in August 2020. The roster expanded with the addition of the prop collecting podcast The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of in October 2020 and a collaboration with AEW for Wrestling With The Week launched in January 2021. Early 2021 saw new shows debuting with Anthony Padilla, Grace Helbig, and Mamrie Hart. By September 2021, The Roost hosted more than 100 podcasts, generating approximately 300 million monthly impressions. That year also saw a reported 50% growth in audience size alongside a fourfold increase in revenue.

In April 2024, talent management firm Night, known for representing prominent YouTubers and Twitch streamers including MrBeast, acquired The Roost. CEO A.J. Feliciano confirmed that most employees would remain with the company. According to Variety, as of April 2024, The Roost's network achieved over 350 million views and reached 20 million downloads per month.

Overview

Rooster Teeth established an online community and social networking platform on October 4, 2004, aiming to engage fans while retaining control over content distribution. The site included features such as community statistics, user journals, an image gallery, and a "mod point system" empowering members to assist in moderation efforts. Presently, it attracts around 5 million unique visitors each month and boasts more than 2 million registered users, including approximately 135,000 paying FIRST subscribers at $5 monthly. This direct-to-consumer approach underpins Rooster Teeth's revenue growth and enhances its competitive position within digital content markets.

Rooster Teeth First

To host their own video content initially, Rooster Teeth incurred $13,000 in server costs at a co-location facility. This expense led to the creation of "Sponsorships" in 2003 (later renamed Rooster Teeth First), a membership program providing early access to videos, exclusive content, merchandise offerings, and improved site features. Sponsorships played a vital role in generating early revenue streams that supported company expansion.

On July 1, 2016, the ad-free Sponsorship program was rebranded as "FIRST," introducing a premium Double Gold tier that included benefits such as a 10% discount on merchandise purchases, VIP access to live events, and merchandise boxes valued above $60.

Community

The founders of Rooster Teeth prioritize community as a fundamental element of their business approach and market presence. Burnie Burns and Gus Sorola attribute the company’s continuous expansion and worldwide audience interaction to maintaining active, reciprocal communication with a highly engaged core group. George Strompolos, CEO of Fullscreen, identified this "extremely influential community" as a crucial reason behind the acquisition of Rooster Teeth and the success of projects such as Lazer Team. Matt Hullum, a co-founder, recognized that the community played an essential role in the creation of their inaugural feature film.

Sustained community involvement remains integral to Rooster Teeth’s organizational ethos and commercial strategy, promoting brand loyalty and ongoing growth.

Notable community contributors

Several key Rooster Teeth personnel began their journey within its community platform, including Gavin Free, Barbara Dunkelman, and Kent Nichols. The company has effectively utilized its fan base for content development and production efforts: from engaging hundreds of enthusiasts as extras during RTX events to sourcing talent directly from fan forums. Prominent appointments include creative director Barbara Dunkelman, composers Nico Audy-Rowland and Jeff Williams, as well as Achievement Hunter members Caleb Denecour and Ray Narvaez Jr. Incorporating community members into the workforce enhances both corporate culture and operational productivity.

Initiatives driven by the community also attract media coverage and elevate brand recognition, as demonstrated by fan-made projects like Jordan Scott’s RWBY video game.

Allegations of sexual harassment

In February 2019, Rooster Teeth ended its association with voice actor Vic Mignogna following multiple accusations of sexual harassment; Mignogna denied any criminal wrongdoing and filed defamation suits but was unsuccessful in appeals.

In October 2020, leaked explicit images implicated Achievement Hunter’s Ryan Haywood and Funhaus co-founder Adam Kovic; Kovic immediately left the company. Later grooming allegations against Haywood resulted in his dismissal. These events affected Rooster Teeth’s public image and led to internal evaluations of workplace conduct policies.

Claims of toxic workplace environment

Anonymous Glassdoor reviews in June 2019 revealed a problematic crunch culture within Rooster Teeth Animation, highlighting issues such as extended unpaid overtime, inadequate management, and excessive reliance on temporary employees. Shortly thereafter, Gray Haddock, Head of Animation, resigned.

In October 2022, former Achievement Hunter member Kdin Jenzen publicly accused Rooster Teeth of persistent crunch conditions, inequitable compensation, and discriminatory behavior including homophobia and transphobia by senior management. Her statements elicited public apologies from Achievement Hunter cast members like co-founder Geoff Ramsey and resulted in a scaled-back release schedule. Rooster Teeth responded with commitments to cultural reform and wage equity assessments. Following Jenzen’s revelations, additional ex-employees reported unpaid labor and abusive discrimination. The company issued a subsequent apology outlining reforms since 2020, such as establishing pay bands and revamping Human Resources.

Arrest of Michael Quinn

On November 20, 2019, Michael Quinn, who served as Rooster Teeth's Vice President of Product Research and Engineering, was taken into custody following allegations of assault against his spouse. Three days subsequent to the incident, the company ended his employment.

External links

• • Archived versions