What Happened to Steph from Game Theory? Exiting GTLive After a Decade of Theories
Longtime co-host and creative force behind the scenes Stephanie Patrick announced in March 2021 she was stepping back from regular on-camera roles at Game Theory, shifting to a limited capacity. Steph‘s creative impact and passion will be missed, but theories will continue under the channel‘s new corporate owner.
Steph Shaped the Heart and Soul of Theory Content
As MatPat‘s classmate-turned-producing partner since 2009 and wife since 2013, Steph had an indelible influence on Game Theory‘s voice, editing style, organization and even hosting over the last decade.
Dubbed "The Mother of Theories", she coached a scrappy college passion project into a professionalized operation reaching 30 million monthly views — without losing touch with the community that made it possible.
Events Leading to a Surprise Sell-Off
In the years leading up to the sale, Game Theory had grown to staggering proportions:
| Channel | Subscribers |
|---|---|
| The Game Theorists | 16 million |
| The Film Theorists | 11 million |
| GTLive | 3 million |
Rumors suggest creators may have felt overwhelmed juggling 4 YouTube channels, expensive live productions, a team of 20 employees, and raising a family.
Engagement had also flatlined: GTLive views remained steady around 300k rather than continuing rapid growth.
Selling may have represented a chance to cash out a healthy nest egg while securing Game Theory‘s future with corporate resources.
Why MatPat May Have Been Enticed By a Lucrative Buyout
Market reports revealed Lunar X purchased the Theorists Media empire for nearly $50 million dollars.
For creators who started out making videos in their college basement for fun, this surely represented lifechanging money upfront.
However, PatPat‘s have never seemed motivated solely by profit. More alluring may have been the opportunity to focus purely on host roles with a team handling intensive business operations — while still remaining at the helm creatively.
The Sale‘s Impact on Views and Growth So Far
In the 2 years since the sale, Game Theory views and subs have continued steady upwards growth:
| Channel | Current Subscribers | Avg Monthly Views |
|---|---|---|
| The Game Theorists | 18.4 million | 55 million |
| The Film Theorists | 14.2 million | 33 million |
| GTLive | 3.1 million | 28 million |
Monthly view averages are up 15-20% across the board — suggesting the corporate owner has provided helpful resources to expand reach.
However, video view counts no longer regularly surpass 1-2 million as they did at the height of 2014-2018 viral theory hype.
As the channel‘s novelty wears off, Lunar X may push new formats, collaborations, and merch to sustain revenues.
My Projections: What‘s Next for Game Theory Under Corporate Ownership?
I predict Lunar X will encourage experiments like Food Theory and musical specials that provide new revenue and cross-promotional opportunities.
Popular one-off stunts like the IRL FNAF escape room may become recurring events with brand sponsorships.
Based on Steph‘s strengths, I wouldn‘t be surprised if she resurfaces soon involved with an animated TV project, female gamer initiative, or behind-the-scenes YouTube consulting.
One thing is certain, as long as MatPat remains loyal to theorists, the heart of Game Theory will stay intact. But expect expanded mainstream publicity and polish as creators now answer more directly to shareholders.
Steph Leaves a Legacy of Passion and Community
While the future may shift Game Theory gradual towards mass entertainment, the theories games fans know and love aren‘t disappearing.
Steph‘s legacy reminds us that with genuine passion, camaraderie and a "theorize first" mentality, any creative endeavor can touch millions.
