Gala Games Faces Increasing Troubles Amid Developer Criticism
The situation for web3 gaming platform Gala Games continues to worsen, as Dutch game developer Gamedia has recently voiced its grievances regarding their partnership. In a formal announcement, Gamedia, known for developing the tank brawler game Spider Tanks and other projects, described a partnership that has soured due to unmet promises, delayed revenue payments, a lack of cooperation, and instances of intimidation.
Initial Collaboration and Growing Concerns
The partnership commenced in early 2021, a time when the web3 gaming sector was still in its infancy, and Gala was viewed as a leading contender in the industry. Gala had promised Gamedia financial backing, promotional assistance, and publishing support for Spider Tanks, while Gamedia agreed to achieve certain development benchmarks. However, it wasn’t long before Gamedia expressed concerns about Gala’s failure to fulfill its marketing obligations and changing priorities. Gamedia reported that it had to shoulder marketing responsibilities—such as organizing events, creating trailers, and managing community engagement—due to Gala’s lack of resources, even as Gala aggressively pursued unrelated ventures in film and music, spending substantial amounts on unproductive celebrity endorsements, private jets, and real estate.
Continued Frustration and Changes in 2023
Gamedia faced ongoing issues with delays in essential features, support, and revenue payments from Gala. Despite making several attempts to communicate their concerns, Gamedia found Gala unresponsive and unwilling to adjust their approach for a more sustainable future. By 2023, Gala introduced a token fork and burn to launch a new Gala v2 token, which Gamedia claimed altered their publisher responsibilities, creating an “eat what you kill” model. This shift resulted in Spider Tanks players being unfairly burdened with costs they had already contributed, leading Gamedia to halt further investment in the game, citing Gala’s mismanagement and attempts to exploit their intellectual property.
Gala’s Legal Counteraction and Accusations of Defamation
In response to Gamedia’s withdrawal, Gala has resorted to legal measures, public defamation, and efforts to claim Gamedia’s intellectual property. According to Gamedia, “Since then, Gala Games has publicly defamed us in an attempt to shift blame for their shortcomings.” They accuse Gala of portraying them as greedy and opportunistic, which Gamedia asserts is merely a reflection of Gala’s own conduct.
Pattern of Controversy Affecting Multiple Partners
The issues between Gala and Gamedia are not isolated incidents. Gamedia has indicated that this troubling behavior has extended to other partners and internal teams. Various third-party developers are reportedly entangled in legal battles with Gala. Notably, the team behind Get Plucked is facing termination and accusations of dishonesty, while the Mirandus team, once a flagship project for Gala, has been criticized for being uncooperative and was ultimately dismissed.
Internal Turmoil and Allegations of Misconduct
Furthermore, Gamedia claims that numerous co-founders, shareholders, and employees at Gala Games have been either dismissed, bullied, or legally pursued, with Gala justifying these actions as being “for the greater good.” This troubling pattern suggests deeper issues within the company. For instance, Gala defended its 2023 token fork and burn as necessary for “enhancing burn mechanisms and security,” but it later emerged that this move was partly motivated by an ongoing lawsuit involving co-founders Eric Schiermeyer and Wright Thurston, aimed at ensuring the tokens Thurston allegedly misappropriated would become worthless.
Recent Developments and Security Concerns
Adding to the turbulence, it was recently disclosed that Gala’s blockchain president, Jason Brink, had officially departed the company along with a group of employees to establish a new entity intended to support Gala externally. However, given the surrounding allegations, this departure appears more like an escape from a failing organization. Just a day later, Gala suffered a $240 million exploit, though the hacker returned the stolen funds. This incident has only intensified scrutiny surrounding Gala’s operational stability and organizational structure.
