Machinima sets all YouTube videos to private and says it has ‘pivoted from legacy channels’

Online entertainment network Machinima has hidden all of its YouTube videos, switching all of the videos from its main and subsidiary channels – such as Machinima Happy Hour and Machinima Trailer Vault – from public to private viewing, essentially removing all content.

Kotaku reports that the platform – which featured shows such as BFFs and Super Best Friends Play and has almost 12.4 million subscribers – seemingly did not formally notify any of its followers nor creators of the changes, and there’s currently no mention of the decision on Machinima’s official social media accounts.

Established in 2000, Machinima was an early influence on YouTube and its content creators and was later acquired by Warner Bros. Digital Networks in 2016. In 2018, when Warner Bros itself was acquired by AT&T, Machinima was then subsumed by AT&T’s own multi-channel network, Fullscreen. That is currently operated by Otter Media.

Since news about the channel spreads, creators and fans alike have been sharing their memories of Machinima on social media with the hashtag, #RIPMachinima.

Wow… they finally went ahead and deleted everything we'd ever done.
7+ Years of work… lost to the sands of time. #RIPMachinima

Make sure you're subbed to our new channel that we started after leaving Machinima last june – https://t.co/CdswejOfLJ – thanks pic.twitter.com/H8MEVGHaCq

— Ricky (@rickyftw) January 19, 2019

"Wow… they finally went ahead and deleted everything we’d ever done," said Lawrence Sonntag. "7+ Years of work… lost to the sands of time. #RIPMachinima", while former creator Matt Dannevik said: "Sad to see the catalogue go. As many have already said Machinima was a special place filled with amazing people."

"Otter Media really just went and deleted Machinima, Happy Hour, Respawn, Realm, Prime, Inside Gaming, ETC, everything," tweeted former creator and employee of Machinima, Jeremy Azevedo.

Sad to see the catalogue go. As many have already said Machinima was a special place filled with amazing people. I feel lucky to have been part of it. #RIPMachinima

— Matt Dannevik (@MattDannevik) January 19, 2019

"We are focused on creating new content with the Machinima team, which will be distributed on new channels to be announced in the coming months," Otter Media said in a statement to Kotaku. 

"In the meantime the Machinima network of creator channels continues to showcase the talents of the network. As part of this focus on new content, we have pivoted from distributing content on a handful of legacy operated channels."