Back in the mid- to late- 2000s, prominent YouTube channel and website ScrewAttack was known for its original programming as well as hosting Angry Video Game Nerd content. On March 28, 2014, ScrewAttack was acquired by Fullscreen, and then later became a part of the Rooster Teeth network. However, as of February 4, 2019, ScrewAttack is no more, and has officially re-branded itself as the Death Battle channel.
This announcement may have come as a surprise to those who used to watch ScrewAttack a decade ago, but it may not be quite as surprising to those who have been keeping up with the channel’s more recent content. In recent years, the channel has focused almost exclusively on hypothetical “death battles,” often pitting two video game characters against each other in a fight to the death. ScrewAttack renaming itself to Death Battle makes sense, as it more accurately represents the kind of content the channel is creating nowadays.
Even so, some fans may be sad to see ScrewAttack go, especially in light of other recent events involving Fullscreen and its parent company Otter Media. Otter Media recently made the decision to wipe Machinima’s content, erasing over a decade of work without giving video creators advanced warning.
Not long after that, Otter Media effectively shut Machinima down entirely, laying off over 80% of its staff in the process. While Machinima certainly had its fair share of controversies over the years, it was still a part of history and hugely influential when it came to gaming content in YouTube’s early days, so these developments haven’t exactly been met with enthusiasm from the community.
Like Machinima, ScrewAttack’s best days may have been behind it, but there will still be fans who will be upset that it’s effectively no more. On the bright side, anyone who was still following ScrewAttack’s YouTube content on a regular basis can still look forward to new Death Battles, as that will be the channel’s primary focus from here on out.
