Thursday, December 14th 2017
Crytek Sues Cloud Imperium Games for Breach of CryEngine Contract
Crytek has filed a suit against Cloud Imperium Games (developers of Star Citizen and Squadron 42) for wrongdoings regarding Crytek's CryEngine. Cloud Imperium Games has recently moved over to Amazon's Lumberyard, a free, cross-platform triple-A game engine which has been built-upon by Amazon, based and licensed from Crytek's CryEngine in 2015. Apparently, in doing so, Cloud Imperium Games has violated a number of agreed-upon items on their engine licensing contract, for which Crytek is now going after for damages and compensation.
The essence of the suit stands in that Crytek only licenced its engine for the development of a single game - Star Citizen - and that CIG is now developing a second one in Squadron 42, for which it had no rights to use Crytek's IP and assets. Futhermore, CIG agreed, when signing the contract, to use Crytek's logos as part of the game development and final game presentation, so as to provide awareness for the company, but has since removed them from all instances of the game.
Crytek is also saying that they "invested significant time and expense in creating impressive demonstrations and proofs-of-concept that were used to persuade the public to contribute financially to a "crowdfunding" campaign to support development of the video game.", of which they really have no gains to show for. As part of the suit, Crytek is going after at least $75,000 in direct damages (excluding all indirect damages), as well as a percentage of the profits CIG achieves with its games, among other forms of compensation - all to be determined in court.
CIG has responded to the Crytek lawsuit as it was originally covered in DSOGaming, saying that "We are aware of the Crytek complaint having been filed in the US District Court. CIG hasn't used the CryEngine for quite some time since we switched to Amazon's Lumberyard. This is a meritless lawsuit that we will defend vigorously against, including recovering from Crytek any costs incurred in this matter." I guess we'll see all about this fight, won't we?
Sources:
DSOGaming, Crytek Lawsuit @ SCRIBD
The essence of the suit stands in that Crytek only licenced its engine for the development of a single game - Star Citizen - and that CIG is now developing a second one in Squadron 42, for which it had no rights to use Crytek's IP and assets. Futhermore, CIG agreed, when signing the contract, to use Crytek's logos as part of the game development and final game presentation, so as to provide awareness for the company, but has since removed them from all instances of the game.
48 Comments on Crytek Sues Cloud Imperium Games for Breach of CryEngine Contract
Star Citizen = Multiplayer
It was explained when it was announced:
Unless you back CIG and have actual credible reasons to be critical, or can demonstrate the reading comprehension skills of a turnip, hater opinions aren't worth a darn.
Crytek is just digging their own grave at this point. SC backers can be mighty passionate about it. If they for a second think that even some of their money is going to fight Crytek...Crytek better be ready for backlash like they've never seen. Not just from an internet social media level. But full out mountain of poop bags at their door step. The passionate SC backers will take it personally. You don't mess with people who go as far as some of them do to support SC. To them they aren't suing CIG, but the backers who support CIG.
I'm hoping RSI/CIG have a roadmap to completion and have ironed out their management issues. If they have not, the game will never be finished. If they have, then it should be mostly smooth sailing to release.