“Hello internet, welcome to Game Theory!” was the welcoming message of Matthew Patrick. Known online as Matpat, he was the mastermind behind “The Game Theorists” YouTube channel and brand.

On January 9, 2024, a video that, at the time of writing, had 17 million views, was uploaded titled “Goodbye Internet,” where Patrick announced that he would be stepping away from not only “The Game Theorists” but its sister channels “Film Theory” “Food Theory” and their newest channel, “Style Theory.”

“It’s not clickbait. On March 9th, I will be hosting my last theory episode. At which point, I will be handing the channel off to someone else,” Patrick said.

In the video, Patrick discussed his reasoning for leaving the channels. Many of these reasons relate to time constraints from running such a large YouTube channel.

“We knew we couldn’t do this forever. We didn’t want to do this forever. For as much as I love you, and I love overthinking things, and I love theorizing, I don’t love the late nights. I don’t love that Steph (Patrick’s significant other) and I have been work first for over a decade,” Patrick said.

As the channels grew, Patrick knew from the start he wanted to go out on a high note, and 2023 was the year he found that high note to end on.

“I’ve always wanted to go out on a high note and when you stop and look at the last year, it has been the best year in the theorist’s life span. It’s our highest view year. It’s the year we launched style theory and immediately put our foothold in a new space. We became one of the top style and fashion channels on YouTube,” Patrick said.

After his retirement announcement, many viewers wondered what would happen to the channels. In his video, Patrick clarified who the new channel hosts would be.

“Lee is going to be taking over film theory. Then we have Amy over on style theory. Then you have Santi and Tom. Santi on food theory and Tom here on Game Theory,” Patrick said. 

Although Patrick will be stepping away from a host role in the channels, he announced a few upcoming projects. These projects include a lo-fi alternate reality game, a fashion show, an animated series, and a potential video game.

“For the last 13 years, I’ve been commenting on other people’s IP. But now that I’ve stepped out of those roles, I get to create the IP. Still as a part of theorist, but I get to create things that are going to challenge the new hosts of the channels,” Patrick said.

Patrick ended his video on a sad note. Using the growing-up analogy, Patrick realized it was his time to move away and treasure the memories of the people he met throughout his career.

“So GrandpaPat is going to sign out now. I’ll be around for a few more weeks,” Patrick said. “And with that, I’m going to say for one the final times, that’s just a theory, a game theory.”