The ongoing saga between Byterunners, the developer behind the Drug Dealer Simulator series, and its publisher, Movie Games, has taken a tumultuous turn, revealing the complexities of their contractual relationship. The friction surfaced publicly on September 9, when Byterunners released a statement addressing an investigation initiated by Movie Games in April. This inquiry focused on perceived similarities between Drug Dealer Simulator and the viral game Schedule 1, leading to a wave of negative reviews for Byterunners’ titles and a strong rebuttal from the developers, who asserted they were not being unfairly treated.
Profit Disputes and Contractual Conflicts
In the same statement, Byterunners claimed that Movie Games had withheld profits from console sales of both Drug Dealer Simulator 1 and Drug Dealer Simulator 2. Movie Games, however, maintains that Byterunners is not entitled to these profits based on their contractual agreement. The situation escalated further when Byterunners alleged that profits were contingent upon compliance with “new production plans,” which they argue deviated from their original contract terms.
Efforts to resolve the dispute amicably have been made on two occasions by Byterunners, including a settlement proposal on July 30 and a formal demand for compensation on August 14. The tension intensified when Movie Games reportedly only engaged in settlement discussions after a Polish news article highlighted the dispute on September 9, coinciding with Byterunners’ public statement.
According to Agnieszka Halasinska, vice-CEO of Movie Games, the crux of the disagreement lies in the interpretation of their contract. She stated, “Byterunners did not do any work on the console versions of the game, and according to our agreement, they do not have a share in the console sales of these games.” While Byterunners acknowledges the copyright transfer, creative director Rafał Pęcherzewski contends that they are entitled to a share of profits from the console ports, arguing that the success of the intellectual property is a direct result of their original work.
The heart of the matter appears to be a misunderstanding regarding the terms of the console ports. Although discussions took place, the conditions were never formally documented, leading Movie Games to engage a different developer for the ports without Byterunners’ involvement. Halasinska asserts that there was no legal obligation to include Byterunners in these discussions, while Pęcherzewski believes their exclusion was unjust.
Legal Ramifications and Ongoing Issues
As the dispute escalated, Movie Games issued a fine against Byterunners amounting to 4.5 million Polish złoty (approximately .24 million) for alleged failures to address bugs in Drug Dealer Simulator 2. Halasinska emphasized that this penalty was a response to Byterunners’ claims and their lack of support for the games post-release. She noted that hundreds of bugs remain unresolved, and Byterunners has missed multiple deadlines for updates.
Pęcherzewski countered that delays are a common aspect of game development and that both parties had previously agreed to extend timelines for content updates. The crux of the issue seems to be a breakdown in communication, with both sides acknowledging that clearer conversations could have potentially mitigated the current tensions.
As the situation continues to unfold, discussions about unpaid downloadable content and the nature of new additions to the game remain contentious. Byterunners claims that verbal agreements exist, which Movie Games denies, further complicating the relationship between the two entities. Both parties have expressed a desire for direct communication rather than public disputes, yet neither has taken steps to re-establish dialogue since Byterunners’ public statements.
The path forward remains uncertain, with a legal confrontation appearing increasingly likely. The intricate dynamics of their partnership, once rooted in creative collaboration, now seem overshadowed by misunderstandings and unmet expectations, leaving both Byterunners and Movie Games at a crossroads.
