Chronicles Of Elyria CEO Says Work On The Game Continues As Backers Seek Legal Action
A little over a month ago, indie-developer Soulbound Studios announced that they were shutting down Chronicles of Elyria and laying off all their employees because they ran out of funding. This happened just a few days after they ran their first-ever limited closed beta test. To top it all off, the studio refused to give refunds and even removed account transaction histories.
Naturally, this resulted in a backlash of epic proportions from the game’s backers, some of whom invested thousands of dollars on the game. The former backers felt that they were scammed out of their hard-earned money and sought legal action against the company with the help of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Soulbound, however, responded with a statement saying that they’re continuing to work on the game with the help of staff who volunteered to remain behind and that they were already looking for additional sources of funding.
Soulbound Studios CEO Jeremy Walsh also recently published an FAQ for the benefit of the Attorney General’s office, backers, and the general gaming community, reiterating the fact that development on the game continues and that they’re committed to delivering on their promise. “Our intention was never to shut down the game or the company. We used the word ‘shutter’ incorrectly and regret ever writing that,” wrote Walsh. “We reacted hastily and our words were not carefully chosen. What we should have done is what we are doing now. We are clearly and unambiguously letting you know where our development stands: it is precarious, but we are determined to do everything we can to deliver.”
Walsh also maintained that they will not be offering refunds and explained how the funds were used. “Our costs can be broken down into payroll expenses for approximately 20 people, numerous contractors, health insurance, operating expenses (such as our lease, computers, electricity, Internet services), software licenses and associated royalties, legal costs, accounting, training, and marketing,” he said. “Our run-rate has averaged nearly $2M a year over four years and every penny can be accounted for. [. . .] The money you paid has been used for game development, not elaborate vacations or luxury homes.”
Walsh admits that they still don’t have a window for the game’s release, or re-release, but they’re currently in talks with a potential investor to release a playable proof of technology demo. More information can be found on the Chronicles of Elyria Kickstarter page.
