Scott Cawthon, the developer of Five Nights at Freddy’s, has announced his retirement; after outrage and threats over his republican support.
As previously reported, it had been discovered that Cawthon had donated over $35,000 USD to republican politicians, a PAC, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee across 2019 and 2020. Some felt this ran counter to the game’s surprisingly large LGBTQ community.
Due to the website containing this information listing his zip-code and state, this lead to threats against him and his pregnant wife. Cawthon publicly stated he would not apologize “because I exercised my right, and my duty, as an American citizen, to vote for and support the candidates who I felt could best run the country, for everyone.”
“All of this explanation, I fear, is wasted,” Cawthon stated, “as people don’t want to discuss with one another anymore; they want endless apologies and submission. People who are expecting those from me will get neither.”
Cawthon concluded that even if he was cancelled (unable to work with anyone for their fear of persecution), he would retire content. Being cancelled would not lose what he valued most.
Today, the Scott Games website has updated revealing that Cawthon is retiring. After briefly discussing the large volume of fan-art he received over the years, he expressed his gratitude to the fans for the last seven years.
“I’ve had a blessed, fulfilling, and rich career. I’ve been shown great kindness and I’ve tried to show great kindness in return. I’ve tried to make some good games (let the debate ensue), and I’ve witnessed the creation of possibly the most creative and talented fanbase on the planet.”
Cawthon further explains that as the series took off in his mid-30s (himself now in his mid-40s), he realized he missed things he had done before Five Nights at Freddy’s. This includes making games for his children, and making games for fun such as RPGs.
“All of this is to say that I am retiring. I have been shown tremendous love and support over this last week, a lot of which has come from the LGBTQ community. The kindness shown to me has been surreal.”
It was explained this would not be the end of the Five Nights at Freddy’s series however, as “someone else will eventually be running the show; someone of my choosing, and someone I trust.” Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (developed by Steel Wool Studios) launches 2021 for PlayStation 5.
Cawthon finishes, stating that he will now focus on his family, though he may still “be around.”
“I have SIX kids now (although one of them is currently the size of a blueberry.) I love them dearly; they are my whole world and my whole universe. I want to focus my attention on them, focus in protecting them, and spend my time making things for them. I only ask that my fanbase respect my decision. I will still be around, just not in the capacity I used to be. What a blessed career I’ve had; what wonderful people I’ve met; and what a tremendous blessing to have been able to know all of you. Thank you so much.
See you on the flipside.”
Image: Reddit
