Limbo Developer Addresses Public Feud Among Co-Founders

Playdead Co-Founders’ Dispute Heats Up

Playdead, the studio renowned for its critically acclaimed games Limbo and Inside, is facing significant turmoil as its co-founders, Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, find themselves embroiled in a public disagreement. This conflict is not a recent development, as reports have hinted at a rift since Patti exited the company following the release of Inside in 2016.

The tension escalated recently when Patti made allegations of “bullying” against Jensen, claiming that he has faced numerous legal threats since leaving Playdead. These threats appear to be linked to a past LinkedIn post where Patti discussed the game’s development. In this post, he included a photo that he claims was used without permission by Jensen, leading to demands for compensation amounting to approximately £56,000.

In response to these accusations, Playdead issued a statement confirming they have initiated legal action concerning what they described as “infringement and unauthorized use of Playdead’s trademarks and copyrighted works.” The studio emphasized the importance of protecting its intellectual property, stating, “We have found it necessary to take this action to protect our trademarks and copyrights, which are essential to Playdead’s business and reputation.”

Documents shared by Patti reveal that Playdead has accused him of misrepresenting his contributions to Limbo’s development. They claimed that his sharing of insights implied a more significant creative role in the game’s creation than he actually had. In counter to these claims, Patti asserted that he was integral to the founding and development of Playdead, insisting that without his input, the company might not have come into existence.

Patti’s public response was charged with emotion; he urged Jensen to cease what he termed “bullying” and expressed his determination to maintain his identity and history associated with the company. “You can’t rewrite the past just because of a bad breakup,” he stated, emphasizing the complexity of their professional relationship.

While all this drama unfolds, Playdead is actively working on its next project, teased since 2017. The studio is collaborating with Epic Games, which confirmed its role in publishing the upcoming title.

On the other hand, Dino Patti has ventured into new territory by establishing Jumpship, where he led the development of Somerville, his debut game, released in 2022. This adventure platform game featured physics-based puzzles, and although it drew comparisons to Playdead’s iconic style, it received generally positive reviews.

As the situation continues to develop, it reflects not only the internal conflicts of a prominent game development studio but also the complexities of creative collaboration in the gaming industry. The controversies surrounding Playdead serve as a reminder of the potential personal and professional challenges that can arise between co-creators as they navigate their artistic journeys and legacies.