The dispute he has with Frogwares, the developers of the video game, has ended in court.
Without a second of respite. Frogwares and Nacon have thrown themselves into a tough battle in the mud. Dynamite has been added to the cross statements, which has exploded when Steam has withdrawn The Sinking City from Steam. It has done so after the developer claimed it, under the pretext that Nacon allegedly hacked this version without authorization from Frogwares. Now, the editor has published a new statement in which she defends her position.
In the text, which can be read on the official website, Nacon affirms that they want to offer their vision of the events in the face of “these unjustified accusations.” According to the company, “Nacon is by contract the sole distributor of The Sinking City on Steam.”
They emphasize that they have contributed to the financing of the product and to the payment of royalties to Frogwares, with a sum that amounts to 8.9 million euros invested to date (which includes the full payment of the Steam version). According to Nacon, the final investment has been more than 10 million euros counting the cost of marketing. “Contrary to what the Frogwares allegations say, Nacon has paid all of his amounts owed.”
They say that unless the studio is acting “in bad faith” there are no reasons to prevent the video game from launching on Steam. In the past, they say, Frogwares used their accusations to try to break the contract. However, the French courts considered this move to be illegal, so the contract would remain in force.
Notre statement on the current situation with the studio Frogwares and The Sinking City.
Déclaration complète: https://t.co/YOuUqzYVaX pic.twitter.com/rsgMG47t1D
– Nacon France (@NaconFR) March 3, 2021
Back to court?
“In line with the court decision, Nacon has repeatedly and unsuccessfully requested that Frogwares launch the game on Steam.” By not doing so, the company points out that they can make use of the clause of the contract that establishes that a third party studio can adapt the title to these platforms. “Frogwares then tried, without Nacon’s knowledge and in violation of our rights, to launch the game on Steam without mentioning Nacon as publisher.”
The publisher says that the game recently removed from Steam indicated that The Sinking City is owned by Frogwares and that the royalties generated would be paid to the studio. Still, the study asked players not to purchase the game. “By encouraging the gaming community not to buy the game,” they continue, Frogwares is once again sabotaging our investment in the title. “
Nacon regrets the conflict, but at this point possible legal action is reserved for the “aggressive and damaging” content of his comments ”.
