FNAF Theories

Mike Schmidt/Michael Afton

Original Theory: 

So maybe I'm confused, but why do people think they're the same person? Mike is clearly just a random security guard. Everyone says he's Michael trying to right his father's wrongs, but how exactly is he doing that in FNAF 1? All he does is sit around in a room for 5 nights and leave with his paycheck. Sister Location and Pizzeria Simulator are more complex, in the sense that Michael is actually doing stuff, gets scooped in one game, and burns in the other. He didn't finish either job, whereas in FNAF 1, Schmidt finishes his 5 nights and then leaves. Everyone always says the "odor" and "tampering with the animatronics" thing proves it, but Scott didn't plan Sister Location back then, the odor was probably just there to be funny, and the tampering with the animatronics is just a joke because you the player messed with their AI on the custom night, which is by the way, not canon. I mean, even in the movie, Mike Schmidt isn't Michael Afton, Vanessa is like a movie version of Michael Afton instead. 

New Theory: 

So I still agree with everything I said before...except one thing. Schmidt and Afton might actually be the same. But how is Mike righting his father's wrongs? Well, he isn't. If you go on my other pages, you'll know I think Sister Location is in 2023. Now, if Michael worked in FNAF 1, he wouldn't just walk in there as a corpse. He even says in FNAF SL that he's been living in shadows.

NOTE: This is half a theory and half a heacanon since I'm trying to tie up loose ends. 

So basically here's what I think, Michael was responsible for his brother's death in 1983, around 14 years old. I'd imagine he'd be arrested and maybe let free when he turns 18 (1987). In 1987, William is arrested, so I don't know how this works, but I think Michael now owns the Afton house, which explains why William didn't live with him in Sister Location. With this, Michael needs a job, the easiest solution is to work at Freddy's, since he has history there. I imagine that maybe because of what his father did, he used his mother's last name, "Schmidt." Now he is Mike Schmidt, wether or not Fazbear Entertainment knows he's his son or not, I'm not sure. If they do, maybe they put him on night shift so he doesn't do anything during the day. So now Michael works and realizes the place is haunted. THIS is when he finds out about what his father did. After his nights are done...well...he just leaves. There's not much he can do for them, and plus his father is in jail now. 

Then flash forward to 2023, either William escaped jail, or they let him out because as we know, William was a suspect but it was never discovered HE did it. It's possible the Fazbear Entertainment CEO let him out so that their brand doesn't get associated with a killer. So idk, maybe they let him out and then fire him? William calls Michael, sends him to Sister Location, etc. 

Theory Posted: February 10, 2024

Theory Updated: March 28, 2024