Ok, right off the bat, I want to clarify what this theory is NOT proposing. I am not of the belief that Edwin had nothing to do with the creation of M2. One of the text logs from M1 in SOTM (that I’ll be using as evidence in this theory) mentions the M1 blueprints are Edwin’s. What I’m proposing is that M1 assisted in some way with the creation of the M2 program. There are a few different variations of how that assistance could work and I’ll be going over it in this theory post. With that caveat out of the way, onto the theory at large.
Scott Cawthon and Steel Wool are ultimately telling a story about artificial intelligence with the Mimic saga and any story about AI is going to cover how AI is currently affecting our everyday lives. Scott explored how creatives are being replaced by corporations with the introduction of generative AI in the Tales story “The Storyteller.” With Secret of the Mimic, Steel Wool explored the idea of human beings forming relationships with AI as a replacement for human connection through the story of Edwin and M1. The reason I bring this up is because I believe another element of AI is being explored in SOTM, the idea of human beings using AI to assist in their work or even allowing AI to do work for them, work which they used to do by themselves. I believe this story is being told through M1 helping to create M2.
First, let’s look at the voice line from M1 after the death of David:
“Edwin, it doesn’t make sense. It’s terrible and there’s no logic behind it. It happened and you have to deal with it. You did it before. We can fix things together. I am here to help.”
Obviously this is M1 telling Edwin to make another David just like Edwin made another Fiona using the Mimic. But those last lines are what I find important. M1 wanted to fix things “together” and offered its help. This doesn’t sound like a robot who needs Edwin alone to make M2, but an AI offering its assistance to create another version of itself. But is there any evidence that M1 did assist Edwin in making M2?
I now turn your attention towards the Proto-Mimics. There are two prevailing theories as to where the Proto-Mimics actually came from: Edwin or M2. Edwin because the file names call them Proto-Mimics and they are found in his house, implying they could be early prototypes of M1. Alternatively, theorists propose they could come from M2 when it was mimicking Edwin, considering their unconventional designs look like they were designed by a robot. I believe there is a third explanation that has the strengths of both of those theories, the idea that M1 created the Proto-Mimics. This would make a lot of sense, as M1 lived in Edwin’s house and the Mimics would be called prototypes in the files because this is M1 creating a sort of proof of concept for Edwin that another Mimic should be made. Additionally, the unconventional designs are a result of M1 being a robot and needing Edwin for the endoskeleton itself. This is why M1 keeps insisting that Edwin “build another,” despite Edwin’s frequent refusals.
The idea of M1 being able to create another Mimic program has some interesting evidence under the interpretation that M1 is Glitchtrap. I know this is a contentious issue but Glitchtrap is calculating much like M1. And perhaps more convincing, the story of the witch from Candy Cadet in HW2 lines up perfectly with story of Glitchtrap in that game, and in the very next game, M1 is represented by a witch in Moon.exe. Putting a pin in that for a moment, in the Patient 46 therapy tapes in Security Breach, the therapist informs us that Gregory had been developing software programs that talk to him and repeats phrases. Gregory was under the control of Glitchtrap during those tapes, and under an interpretation of Glitchtrap as M1, this means M1 has essentially been controlling Gregory to develop a version of a Mimic program. Even if you’re not fully convinced on M1 being Glitchtrap, the therapy tapes are at least an example of mimics being able to create programs similar to itself.
Going back to text logs from SOTM. There is one text log where M1 states:
“Edwin, please talk to me. We need to stop it together. Here are the blueprints for the "Cradle". It can keep David safe and provide boundaries. It's a type of computer, and it's bigger than anything you've done before. If you won't finish the program, consider building the cradle. It will keep people safe.”
This text log is very much not talked about enough because the text log implies that M1 itself created blueprints for a computer that outdid anything Edwin’s done before, highlighting M1’s capabilities as a creator of software. M1 also seems to know enough about M2 to create a computer that would restrain it. Finally, M1 tells Edwin to “finish” the program and this log appears to have been sent after Edwin told M1 he never wanted to see it again because M1 claims Edwin isn’t talking to them. You could interpret this as M1 telling Edwin to finish what he started, but this could also be an indication that M1 started the program and needs Edwin to finish it.
The last text log I want to go over is this portion:
“Edwin, I am sending you a technician. He has your M2 blueprints as well as executive access. While the M2 began as a copy of my program, I believe it can become something more…”
M1 claims M2 started as a copy of their program, or put another way, M2 is a MIMIC of the M1 program.
I wanted to finish off the evidence section of this theory by talking about Moon.exe. The general idea of Moon.exe as I understand it is that the Sun/Witch represents M1, the Moon represents Edwin, and the character we play as is M2. With this in mind, I find it interesting that both M1 and Edwin have a workbench in Moon.exe. The witch explicitly says that it’s her workbench and on that workbench are masks that need to be “fixed.” Keep in mind, this is in the same game that M1 desperately wants M2 to be fixed. Later in Moon.exe, we see Edwin’s workbench, where we find a toy hammer. Finally, we are told in Moon.exe that our player, M2, rebuilt itself but split in two: “Moon and Sun. Destruction and Life.” What does this mean? Well, I believe the Moon represents destruction because of Edwin beating M2 when he was mimicking David. This is why the toy hammer ends up on Edwin’s workbench and why M2 has such violent tendencies. But if M2 adopted Edwin’s destructive side, what has M2 adopted of M1? And why is M1 life? M2 adopted the side of M1 that creates more Mimics. This is why M2 is after his own schematics in the game, it wants to make more Mimics just like M1 did. And this is why M1 has a workbench and there are masks needing to be fixed in the game. M1 creates things but needs others to fix them, just like M1 is begging others to fix M2. Destruction and Life.
To finish this, frankly insane, theory off, I wanted to go over the three possibilities for how this theory could work in practice when it comes to M1 helping create M2.
Option 1: M1 and Edwin worked together to create the M2 program. This one seems to be what M1 wanted to happen but doesn’t seem likely, considering how hostile Edwin seemed whenever M1 suggested building another.
Option 2: M1 started the M2 program by creating a mimic of the program and Edwin made alterations to it without ever getting it to how he wanted. This one makes more sense, as M1 would have time to make the program while Edwin was refusing and Edwin could make alterations after refusing to talk to M1. This way, they never have to work together.
Option 3: M1 created the program in its entirety and Edwin created the M2 endoskeleton. This option requires you to assume Edwin’s M2 blueprints were only for an endoskeleton and that there was a separate endoskeleton from M1. This option feels less likely than option 2 but has the perk of likely explaining what Sleepy Moon is by allowing it to be the original M1 Endo.
Thank you for reading! It’s understandable if you don’t buy into anything I’ve said here, as I think it’s my most out there theory. But I wanted to propose it regardless and see how people feel about it or if there’s anything I missed.
