YouTuber Jacksepticeye, whose real name is Seán William McLoughlin, recently shared a disheartening update in his video titled 'A Bad Month.' He disclosed that he had been working on an animated show based on the survival horror science fiction game Soma, only for the project to fall apart, leaving him "quite upset."
Soma, developed by Frictional Games and released in 2015, received widespread critical acclaim. Jacksepticeye, a long-time fan of the game, had streamed it extensively upon its release and has frequently cited it as one of his favorite video games. His passion for Soma fueled his year-long effort to bring an animated adaptation to life.
In the video, Jacksepticeye expressed his excitement about the project, noting that he had been in discussions with the developers for a year and was ready to move into full production. He had planned to play the entire game in one video but held off to align with the show's announcement. However, the project abruptly collapsed when an unnamed party decided to take it "in a different direction," a decision that left Jacksepticeye deeply upset and reluctant to delve into specifics.
The cancellation of the Soma animated show significantly disrupted Jacksepticeye's plans for 2025. He had intended to focus much of his year on the project, reducing his regular content uploads in anticipation of showcasing this creative endeavor to his fans. The sudden halt left him questioning his priorities and feeling frustrated, as he had nothing to show for the time and effort invested.
Following Soma, Frictional Games released two more entries in the Amnesia series: Amnesia: Rebirth in 2020 and Amnesia: The Bunker in 2023. In July 2023, Frictional's creative director Thomas Grip mentioned the company's intention to shift focus away from horror games to explore other emotional themes. Grip emphasized the company's goal of creating immersive experiences, whether that be as a World War 1 soldier in a bunker or a robot at the ocean's bottom, and highlighted their interest in exploring emotions beyond just horror.
