Swedish video game commentator Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie (L), is taking a hiatus from YouTube, cause it's all a bit too much. | Source: AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN
Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg is taking a break from YouTube. In a video published this weekend, the second most subscribed YouTuber announced he would pausing his daily upload schedule for a short time in early 2020.
Citing fatigue, PewDiePie said;
I am taking a break from YouTube next year. I wanted to say it in advance because I made up my mind; I’m tired. I’m tired. I’m feeling very tired. I don’t know if you can tell. Just so you know, early next year, I’ll be away for a little while. I’ll explain that later, but I wanted to give a heads up.
The YouTuber has a history of leading on his fan base about quitting the platform. Naturally this raises concerns that this is yet another elaborate ploy.
Back in late 2016, the PewDiePie announced he would delete his channel once it surpassed 50 million subscribers. With a date and time scheduled for the shutdown, he went ahead and deleted his secondary ‘Jacksepticeye2’ channel rather than his main one.
Yet, this time around all indicators suggests this is the real deal.
PewDiePie is one of the most prolific creators on YouTube, uploading daily videos for the better part of his career on the platform. Even going so far as to pre-record content to upload when on vacation and sharing deeply personal events such as his wedding with his viewers.
The last few weeks have been testing for the YouTuber with his UK home flooding alongside a burglary at his recently purchased home in Japan .
In the video announcement, PewDiePie looks visibly tired. Sunken eyes and the noticeable absence of the enthusiasm that usually defines his content suggest a degree of burnout.
While the length of this self-imposed hiatus remains unclear with vague allusions to ‘a little while’, it would be presumptuous to suggest PewDiePie is done for good.
Many of his fans will defend it as nothing more than a well-deserved break after amassing over 102 million subscribers and becoming the most viewed creator on YouTube this year with 4 billion views.