The Long Dark - What is Wintermute? - The Long Dark Wintermute Lore

[@ToastyBits]

Special thank you to my friend Matt! Please don't forget to comment, like, share, subscribe, and hit the notification bell!

[@gadonfire]

The likely scenario is that the sun will be in a period of instability. Most likely the event that takes place in the game is the end of modern civilization and we all go back to the dark ages. If the event leads to the end of the planet itself and the solar system then there is no point in getting excited about saving the world because it is pointless. Also both mysteries will be pointless. If the sun dies and there's nothing we can do about it but wait for the event to happen, but if the sun is unstable over a period of time it's more believable for the story of the game. these are my thoughts there's more but.... i don't want to be annoying

[@ToastyBits]

When I suggested that the sun is dying, I mentioned that it takes a long time for it to happen. If it is entering its end stage in life, it will take a very long time for it to actually die. This would be very far in the future. It wouldn't be something we see in the game. It would just be an explanation for the change in weather.

[@Samimies]

Military call signs are often uppercase in writing. WINTERMUTE might be a callsign for Atwood or a call sign for a protocol that Atwood knows.

[@ToastyBits]

Yep. That's interesting. Now that might explain why it seems that Wintermute is always uppercase. Even the text used for the logo and game titles use an all uppercase font.

[@tamarackgaming]

Well, since the main dev made a point to fully capitalize WINTERMUTE and you think there may be some chance that a government or military is involved in that, it may be an straight acronym or phonetic that just happens to coincidentally spell out a word that on its own just almost makes sense for the game setting. Example: SACEUR - Supreme Allied Commander EURope or MARSOC:MARine forces Special Operations Command. Something along those lines.

[@ChickenHawk8951]

Yeah I was thinking the same sorta putting in a puzzel why Rafael capitalized WINTERMUTE

[@Cerberus19660]

Itll be interesting to see if the military make an appearance in episode 5, since WINTERMUTE does sound very military-esque like code sign or something

[@ToastyBits]

I don't think the military will actually get involved.

[@Cerberus19660]

@ToastyBits probably not. Would still be cool to see though

[@spanishmossyt9505]

Your general theory is well made, but I think it has a foundational flaw. If WINTERMUTE is Jeremiah trying to tell Atwood that there is an apocalyptic event going on it seems like Atwood would probably already have figured that out, especially given that Atwood has access to the radio antenna and research lab. As other people have suggested in comments, it seems more likely that WINTERMUTE is an acryonom for something, likely government/military in nature. WINTERMUTE's purpose is likely one of the two: 1- Jeremiah is a superior officer/commander of Atwood, and WINTERMUTE is a command he is issuing to her. 2- WINTERMUTE is a procedure/proccess/location that Jeriamih will either also participate in/go to, or is unable to participate in/go to it, so he is tasking his friend Atwood to do it for him. These underlie a motive for Jeremiah to actually have a reason for passing on the message. Since the message is so short, the word must be actionable. If he is just passing on the information that it is a apocalyptic event, that wouldn't be helpful information to Atwood, in the sense that she wouldn't be able to use that information for anything. WINTERMUTE would have to be something/someone/someplace that Atwood would have to do/go to. I also think in your video, you could have explored The Collapse more. You mentioned that the earthquakes didn't make sense in relation to the solar flare, but the earthquakes are unrelated to that, as Great Bear has experienced lots of earthquakes in recent years, adding to The Collapse.

[@ToastyBits]

The Collapse has nothing to do with the video. I brought up the earthquakes because they are happening in the game. They may be unrelated to what is happening and is just normal, but I find it odd they only start in Ep. 3 and are only felt in Pleasant Valley and Blackrock so far. Besides that, you bring up a good point. If Atwood did know about this type of scenario and has observed the effects both inside and outside the telescope building, she would already know. I don't think Jeremiah is active in the military. His past is still up in the air and we still don't know exactly what giving Atwood the message will do. I guess we will find out in a few months. Hopefully.

[@Bearmauler]

I can't wait for ep.5 . It's gonna be interesting.

[@ToastyBits]

I agree. I'm excited to hear more news about it.

[@pol528]

one question, if i got the game edition with the history mode i git the first 4 chapters free?? will i have to buy ep 5 afterwards?

[@ToastyBits]

Yes. Episode 5 is part of the Wintermute edition or the original edition.

[@Franzlio]

Considering Great Bear is a desolate place away from the Mainland, Jeremiah is probably a Canadian Ranger. Now I’m not sure how this would help the story or anything but just thought I’d add this because they are part of the Canadian Armed Forces. Maybe he did something in his time as a member and maybe he’s trying to hide something or saw something that he wasn’t supposed to see. Also possibly meeting Atwood in his time as a ranger or previously in his life like you said. Great video overall, I love the effort you put into them and have have been binging them!

[@ChickenHawk8951]

Maybe wintermute is an acronym giving sense to the capitalization of WINTERMUTE Rafael texted out

[@Zidayftw]

Personally I feel like the sun nearing the end of it's life cycle is a bit too big of a creative leap for the story to take. But then again, considering the early episodes of Wintermute had Methuselah who could very well literally be God or an angel of some kind maybe it's not that far-fetched after all. Thank you for making these videos, started watching them after TFTFT came out and they really helped me piece everything together!

[@SavvyKelly1]

I keep waiting for a tie-in with angels, since Astrid works for a company called Seraphim...

[@GronGrinder]

The theory of the sun dying is a really cool one. I hope its true.

[@ronger97]

One idea im curious about is: What if the First flare caused the initial Aurora, but the subsequent aurora's are not from the flare itself but from some other system that was disrupted? we know Rutigers machine reacts very oddly with the Aurora's appearance. Personally I wonder if perhaps the atmosphere is now "Charged" in some capacity. Like maybe charged particles are trapped in the earths atmosphere in some way, and they become active periodically via some unknown system?

[@ToastyBits]

The machine has nothing to do with auroras. Only stars and the energized particle clouds they emit cause auroras. It isn't reacting oddly to the auroras. It's reacting as any other electronic would. It turns on. The energy from other stars take a very long time and the chances of it being powerful enough if it did hit earth are so incredibly low. The earth is being consistently hit by auroras from our sun on a regular basis.

[@ronger97]

@@ToastyBits Oh I didn't mean that. I more meant like.. A bunch of the lore of the DLC is talking about the planet, the island, and its unique properties and opportunities. Im wondering if the planet itself is somehow reacting to the First flare, creating effects that look like subsiuent flares, but are in fact another thing all together

[@ToastyBits]

No. That shouldn't be the case. What makes the island special is the seismic activity and the fault lines that shape it. The machine was never successful, so I highly doubt it ever had an effect on the earth. It's been broken for a long time as well. There just isn't a way for the earth to create these auroras itself.

[@jakeesmon8474]

Been waiting for this one!

[@ToastyBits]

It's here! Enjoy!

[@winterwolf8046]

Could WINTERMUTE be an acronym? You mentioned how it was odd that Raph capitalized the word. Oh and Matt is awesome for giving his insight for your video!

[@ToastyBits]

Maybe, but that would be an absurdly long acronym.

[@OsirisPhalanx]

Perhaps it is just the name of the government operation. Many times governments create code words for specific programs. Sometimes the name vaguely resembles or ties into the operative of the program. Some government programs and names that come to my mind... Operation Desert Storm, the Manhattan Project, Deep Throat, even some Hollywood movies take a turn on this with things like Black Briar in the Bourne series. Maybe that is what Wintermute is... Some covert government op that in the end casts "Muteness" on the world through a never ending "Winter".

[@ToastyBits]

No. It definitely isn't a code word for a program of some kind. It definitely signifies a specific event has occurred that maybe the government, military, or top scientists have theorized. That is why I speculated on Jeremiah's military past. I don't see why they would want to create the scenario you described.

[@derseppe3945]

I don't have much idea though. But I knew a way how the lights trigger the earthquakes. The mines. They run through many parts of the island and are old. and when individual tunnels collapse due to old explosives or power lines in them. Temporary earthquakes can occur.

[@ToastyBits]

The earthquakes are occurring during the day though, so they are definitely not being triggered by the auroras. If the explosives were properly stored, and they most likely were, they would be nowhere near electrical wires.

[@madpoet]

good stuff dude, thanks for posting!

[@ToastyBits]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@thorbrennergostasson8556]

Wintermuite is the name of the AI in William Gibsons's Neuromancer. Edit: ahh NVM he said that...

[@David1122Tma]

hmm maybe the suzuky is in mounten pass? i dont think so cuz its to far , what 20 clicks means when talking about distance, oh its more likely to be near or in port mary cuz its closer to Black Rock and it makes sens , what do u think?

[@ToastyBits]

Suzuki is near perseverance mills. A click is another way of saying kilometer.

[@David1122Tma]

@@ToastyBits i have some questions for u : 1: do u think ep 5 will be the final episode of WINTERMUTE? 2:do u think Will is gonna keep his promis and come back and help Gray Mother? 3:do u think port mary will be a playabel area in survival? And also thanks for puting so mutch time in making these story videos for the long dark

[@ToastyBits]

1. Yes. Wintermute is the name of this storyline. Episode 5 will be the end of Wintermute. 2. Probably not. The episode sounds like it's going to be massive. I think there is way too much going on for Grey Mother to be rescued. It's just too far and the rest of the story takes place on the other side of the island. 3. I don't think so. Unless it is necessary for the ship from the teaser, it most likely won't be included.

[@David1122Tma]

when is tale 3 gonna be releast?

[@ToastyBits]

Very soon. Either next week or the week after.

[@David1122Tma]

@@ToastyBits thanks, episode 5 in decembre right?

[@ToastyBits]

Most likely yes.

[@lilstrats944]

Whatever it is. It can’t be simple.