In a revealing video titled 'A Bad Month,' popular YouTuber Jacksepticeye, whose real name is Seán William McLoughlin, disclosed a significant setback in his creative endeavors. He shared that he had been working on an animated adaptation of the critically acclaimed survival horror game, Soma, for an entire year, only to see the project fall apart abruptly. Soma, developed by Frictional Games and released in 2015, has been a favorite of Jacksepticeye's, often cited as one of the top video games he has ever played.
Jacksepticeye expressed his deep disappointment and frustration over the project's cancellation. He had been in discussions with the developers for a year and was on the verge of entering full production. The YouTuber had planned to dedicate much of his year to the project, intending to showcase it to his fans and engage with them through the creative process. However, the project disintegrated unexpectedly when an unnamed party decided to take it in a "different direction," leaving Jacksepticeye "quite upset" and unwilling to delve into the specifics of what transpired.
The cancellation of the Soma animated show has significantly disrupted Jacksepticeye's plans for 2025, leaving him uncertain about his priorities and next steps. He lamented the lack of content creation and the emotional toll of the project's collapse, describing the past month as particularly challenging.
Following the release of Soma, Frictional Games continued to expand the Amnesia series with titles like Amnesia: Rebirth in 2020 and Amnesia: The Bunker in 2023. In a statement from July 2023, Frictional's creative director, Thomas Grip, mentioned the company's intention to diversify from horror-centric themes to explore a broader range of emotional experiences in their games. This shift in focus might reflect the evolving landscape of game development and could have implications for future projects like the one Jacksepticeye was involved in.
Jacksepticeye's experience with the Soma animated show cancellation highlights the unpredictable nature of creative projects and the emotional impact such setbacks can have on content creators. As he navigates this challenging period, his fans and the gaming community continue to support and look forward to his future endeavors.
Jacksepticeye was working on a Soma animated show. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for QTCinderella.