iam8bit is suing Skybound Recreation Studios alleging fraud and theft of designs

Skybound Recreation Studios is being sued by indie outfit iam8bit over fraud and breach of contract, together with the theft of unique designs. Skybound Leisure, the mother or father firm of Skybound Recreation Studios, is chaired by Robert Kirkman, who could also be finest identified for creating the unique comedian e book of The Strolling Useless. We have reached out to Skybound for touch upon the lawsuit however haven’t obtained a response as of publication.

iam8bit is a online game producer in addition to a merchandise operation promoting vinyl soundtracks and different geek gear. The corporate entered right into a partnership with Skybound Recreation Studios in April 2021. Since then, iam8bit alleges that Skybound performed a multi-year accounting scheme and failed to offer correct monetary reviews for the partnership every month. “Skybound failed to offer the month-to-month reviews as agreed,” the Los Angeles Superior Courtroom criticism reads. “It additionally padded its bills with tens of millions of {dollars} in faux line gadgets.” iam8bit claims Skybound has but to elucidate the road gadgets, even to a third-party auditor that it engaged. The corporate is alleging greater than $4 million in damages associated to the accounting points.

iam8bit additionally accused Skybound of slicing it out of a deal relating to indie online game Stray. Based on the corporate’s counsel, iam8bit designed and developed promotional supplies for the launch of Stray on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The criticism claims that Skybound used commerce secrets and techniques from iam8bit to safe its personal deal for the Nintendo launch of the sport. It alleges Skybound used confidential details about iam8bit’s royalty break up with publishing Annapurna Interactive to chop out its enterprise associate, whereas additionally utilizing “nearly actual copies” of its inventive output for advertising and marketing.

The total listing of allegations in iam8bit’s criticism embody breach of contract, fraud, conversion, unjust enrichment and misappropriation. The corporate’s authorized staff is looking for financial damages, punitive damages and attorneys’ charges in compensation.