The latest surprise comes from an email apparently sent by the sole developer of the horror series, Scott Cawthon, to YouTuber Dawko:

The creator behind the YouTube sensation states that he’s going to release the fourth instalment of the point-and-click survival horror series on August 8th in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of the game that began it all, Five Nights at Freddy’s. In place of its original release date of October 31st on Halloween will be a free content update for what supposedly will be the final chapter of animatronic-bears-gone-wrong.

In what can arguably be called a fairytale year (but is probably too creepy to be called that), Five Nights at Freddy’s has gone from humble beginnings on relatively unknown digital distribution platform Desura, to public praise on Greenlight and Steam, and then to massive popularity through Let’s Play videos on YouTube.

It has spawned two (soon to be three) sequels, an upcoming Warner Bros. movie, and a whole new generation of horrified teenagers.

With a rabid fanbase that never runs out of wild theories and speculation, it would be a sad moment if Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 really turns out to be the final episode of an incredible achievement by the mind of only one man, but whoever has experienced the ingenious work of art will undoubtably be proud to say:

“Good night, Freddy.”