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[BennyBlanco]

They were allegedly working on a AAA project for the last few years, and the publisher pulled funding because studio employees leaked info to kotaku. What a remarkably dumb unforced error. Sucks to see people work on something for years then suddenly get fired and ship nothing, but Austin Walker always seemed like a giant douche to me on giant bomb.

Possibility Space shuts down

Possibility Space has shut down, according to former employees.

www.gamesindustry.biz

Possibility Space was the first of Prytania Media's studios, announced in October of 2021 with a stated commitment of "creating world-class games within safe and ethical work environments" and looking to hire people from marginalized communities.

 

[Hudo]

Austin Walker you say? So nothing of value was lost, then.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Being under NDA is a serious matter. Literally your company is betting everything on a single game and you spill the beans just to become yourself a Kotaku's b*tch? At least aim higher, not to a site that will start copying walkthroughs from GameFAQs very soon.

And obviously sucks for those laid off who were working on the project without leaking information.

 

[rm082e]

but Austin Walker always seemed like a giant douche to me on giant bomb.

Same. I didn't care for what the Beastcast became. I stopped listening to it pretty quickly. I was glad to see Vinnie, Brad and Alex spinoff into Nextlander.

This affects way more people than Austin though. Seems totally bizarre and unlikely that a single leak could kill a studio overnight. Sounds like this guy was looking for an excuse to bail.

 

[Evil Calvin]

Why would leaking anything cause a closure?

 

[Evil Calvin]

Austin Walker you say? So nothing of value was lost, then.

Yes, pompous, condescending tool.

 

[mayham2199]

Why would leaking anything cause a closure?

Apparently they signed NDA's. Once it was violated the publisher pulled. Some people take that stuff seriously.

 

[March Climber]

Man, Austin Walker just can not catch a break ever since he left GB. Such a shame.

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

I thought Kotaku was that guides website. Not sure what drew Austin to this gig, seems like shaky work for a POS boss.

It’s almost as if their partner had forgot they were funding the project until something came up. Like, your Hulu terms of service updates, and it reminds you Hulu exists and you unsubscribe.

 

[panda-zebra]

Now, who wants a brand-new Xbox codename? We've received information that a title currently called Project Vonnegut could be in the works through Xbox Game Studios Publishing

Xbox Game Studios Publishing is the company's secret weapon for new exclusives

The future of Xbox Game Studios Publishing is looking very bright.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[bender]

Why would leaking anything cause a closure?

If the financial details from the publisher were leaked, that could negatively effect future negotiations the publisher has with other development studios.

 

[ssringo]

Sounds like they probably weren't in a good position and the supposed leaks were the final nail. Or are being used as the scapegoat for what they were gonna do anyways.

 

[TVexperto]

sorry but why would anybody leak anything to woketaku?

 

[adamsapple]

Oh man poor Austin.

 

[semiconscious]

They were allegedly working on a AAA project for the last few years, and the publisher pulled funding because studio employees leaked info to kotaku...

right...

 

[SJRB]

Imagine the state of your company when “leaking info to the press” results in immediate closure.

 

[{insert code here}]

Sounds like they probably weren't in a good position and the supposed leaks were the final nail. Or are being used as the scapegoat for what they were gonna do anyways.

Came to post this. One glance at the studio description tells me all I need to know about the "quality" of work they were producing.

 

[Nikodemos]

Smells like the backers were looking for an excuse to bail.

 

[March Climber]

Imagine the state of your company when “leaking info to the press” results in immediate closure.

This is also a good reason why people tell those who are working on fan remakes/fan projects to stay silent until it's done. Once it's done and releases on the internet, nothing can really stop it.

It's the 'talking about it first' part that usually throws a wrench into everything.

 

[clarky]

Came to post this. One glance at the studio description tells me all I need to know about the "quality" of work they were producing.

Exactly, sounds like the Pub was after getting out of jail.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

video game employees sabotaging their our company with leaks. Who woulda had ever guessed. lol. That's video game employees for ya.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

Austin Walker le douche

 

[Guntherlibby]

Possibility Space attempted to hire and mentor people from underserved and overlooked communities and backgrounds.

I am shocked that a company that was more interested in helping minorities than making video games had to shut down.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

Austin Walks, Employees Possibly Spaced After Strain From Kotaku​

 

[Hugare]

I saw on Twitter that the "leak" hasnt even been published yet lol

So yeah, this was 100% an excuse to close the studio. Dude has closed 2 studios in 2 months.

And its obvious (should be, at least), but: this affects way more people than just Austin Walker

 

[Dr.Morris79]

but Austin Walker always seemed like a giant douche to me on giant bomb.

Anyone with pro nouns in their bio is a top tier douche nozzle, guaranteed.

 

[poppabk]

Sucks for the employees. I did find it funny that the studio is closing because of leaked info and then they want employees to delete any company stuff off their computers basically on the 'honor' system.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Yes, pompous, condescending tool.

I love listening to him run out of breath and gulp some air within 2-3 sentences

Salads are your friend, Austin

 

[FoxMcChief]

Austin Walker is such a tool.

 

[Darkkahn]

Well, that sucks.

 

[apocaliptic]

Good, who is next?

 

[Neilg]

Pure speculation, but I would bet real money that the 'details of confidential company meetings' were that leadership is floundering, the project is mismanaged the game in progress sucks. Willing to bet the employees that leaked it were hoping that shitting him up with an article like that would get him to step up and run the company better.

Big lol at him writing the letter as if the leaks are the source of the issue, rather than the symptom.

 

[Wildebeest]

This seems like an "absolutely no brown M&Ms" thing. It is not so much that brown M&Ms are lethal to Van Halen, but that he doesn't trust people who can't follow simple instructions and do their job.

 

[clarky]

So everyone's fault but yours Austin, got it.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Austin is company cancer.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

I love listening to him run out of breath and gulp some air within 2-3 sentences

Salads are your friend, Austin

Hello, Scotland? I'd like to report a hate crime. The name is Chuck Berry. No, no, not that one.

 

[Tajaz2426]

If these folks signed NDAs and then disclosed any information, I’d pull the funding also. Pretty simple.

When I worked at Eglin AFB down in Florida, I stood up VMFAT 501 and the ATC school where we trained Marines, Sailors, and Airmen, anytime we worked on theoretical weapons, weapon delivery, the new EOTs system, small diameter bombs for less collateral damage, we signed NDAs with Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce for just their clutch system for the lift fan, we had to sign NDAs.

It didn’t matter we that had Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmentalized information clearance. They would push back all blocks for updates until that person was found and either NJPd if military or fired from Lockheed themselves.

Companies that put money into an investment do not want information leaked as to hurt future work with other developers or future investors they may be trying to persuade.

We will see what actually happened, but if one moron broke and NDA good on them for pulling out as it would have gotten even worse.

 

[StueyDuck]

They were allegedly working on a AAA project for the last few years, and the publisher pulled funding because studio employees leaked info to kotaku. What a remarkably dumb unforced error. Sucks to see people work on something for years then suddenly get fired and ship nothing, but Austin Walker always seemed like a giant douche to me on giant bomb.

Possibility Space shuts down

Possibility Space has shut down, according to former employees.

www.gamesindustry.biz

Austin Walker?

is good to see a game journo wanker fail and not fail upwards... the other guy seemed like a twat too with pronouns in the bio

nothing of value was lost

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Why would leaking anything cause a closure?

Sounds like a great excuse for a publisher to cut investment in an era of tight cash flow.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

Honestly? Fuck em. This isn't even some "big company bad" shit. The fucking workers signed NDAs then leaked stuff to Kotaku of all places. How fucking dumb do you have to be? Jesus christ. They fucked around and found out. Simple as that.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

Sucks for the employees. I did find it funny that the studio is closing because of leaked info and then they want employees to delete any company stuff off their computers basically on the 'honor' system.

Yeah, I thought that too. Should have requested all equipment to be handed in immediately.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

If these folks signed NDAs and then disclosed any information, I’d pull the funding also. Pretty simple.

When I worked at Eglin AFB down in Florida, I stood up VMFAT 501 and the ATC school where we trained Marines, Sailors, and Airmen, anytime we worked on theoretical weapons, weapon delivery, the new EOTs system, small diameter bombs for less collateral damage, we signed NDAs with Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce for just their clutch system for the lift fan, we had to sign NDAs.

It didn’t matter we that had Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmentalized information clearance. They would push back all blocks for updates until that person was found and either NJPd if military or fired from Lockheed themselves.

Companies that put money into an investment do not want information leaked as to hurt future work with other developers or future investors they may be trying to persuade.

We will see what actually happened, but if one moron broke and NDA good on them for pulling out as it would have gotten even worse.

The stupid thing is that nobody working for any company should even be required to be babysat signing NDAs because logically a grown ass adult shouldnt be spilling confidential info the general public to begin with. But leave it to video game employees to tell the world anything from gaming leaks, company memos, email trails etc... And not even leaks like loose lipping a few sentences here and there on Reddit. Were talking uploading images and videos years in advance.

And gaming employees wonder why management treats them like babies.

Funny how you dont see this kind of stuff from all the employees working at car companies, Nike, consumer good companies etc.... Hey, we got tons of secret info and prototypes in R&D I'm sure everyone who like to read (especially competitors). Yet despite having probably 100x the employee base vs game companies, you never seem to ever hear big secrets revealed.

 

[Small John McCarthy]

A single leak can absolutely end a project, and jeopardise future work. If all you have is one project, then I guess it’s all over.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Possibility Space was the first of Prytania Media's studios, announced in October of 2021 with a stated commitment of "creating world-class games within safe and ethical work environments" and looking to hire people from marginalized communities.

Sounds like the all too familiar "no whites allowed" to me

Glad they're gone

 

[Killer8]

There's some schadenfreude in the irony of journalists who always championed their right to leak other people's work now losing their jobs over journalists doing the very same thing to them. But also because Austin Walker is a cunt.

 

[Clear]

Nothing too bizarre about the email. Pretty fucking harsh, but if a major investor bailed and you don't have a product you think is worth committing to... this is what happens.

Knowing when to cut your losses is a good skill to have.

 

[analog_future]

Austin Walker sure doesn't seem to know how to run a team/business. Pretty everything he's been put in charge of has been a failure.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Being under NDA is a serious matter. Literally your company is betting everything on a single game and you spill the beans just to become yourself a Kotaku's b*tch? At least aim higher, not to a site that will start copying walkthroughs from GameFAQs very soon.

And obviously sucks for those laid off who were working on the project without leaking information.

It really is, and it really sucks how someone can and will just throw everyone under the bus.

In one of my previous studio gigs we were looking for an investor (or more than one) and apparently had a few in motion. Or JUST about. At the time things were kind of rough because we didn't know if things were gonna go up or down, but we were hoping for the best of course. Everyone was firing on all cylinders and trying to remain positive. Things were looking like they were going in that direction.

But then someone decided to tell an outlet that we were "not in good shape and essentially shutting down". After that happened, everything really did go south. All the investors pulled out, and everything went belly up. All because of that one person. I hated that no one figured out who it was.

 

[CamHostage]

Funny how you dont see this kind of stuff from all the employees working at car companies, Nike, consumer good companies etc.... Hey, we got tons of secret info and prototypes in R&D I'm sure everyone who like to read (especially competitors). Yet despite having probably 100x the employee base vs game companies, you never seem to ever hear big secrets revealed.

Of course you do. Nike sneaker leakers are commonplace, car afficionados know tons about cars before they show up in auto shows, leaks over cell phone designs have made national news.

Video games have an active and online-oriented audience for consuming and distributing leaks (and often a young staff on development groups,) and rumor mills have been a part of game coverage since the early days of "Ed the Janitor" and other rumor columns in early-gen magazines. Also, video games are ephemera, a digital product that exists and disappears when you turn your TV on, now sold without even the DVD or cartridge to show evidence of its existence, as opposed to consumer products where there's a tangible product reminding workers that they are creating something to be sold. So it makes sense to me, when you consider the circumstances of leaks, as for reasons why they seem to happen disproportionately in games. However, everywhere that information is craved by an audience, there's likely to be some kind of crack in the fortress where little leaks can get through to them.

Also... video games are video games. They're silly fun time-wasters, originally built for children (and the current consumer base is disproportionately made of man-babies.) They're rarely considered art by respected art critics the way film or music or some other forms of entertainment are (and the fanbase often bristles whenever a game designer "expresses themselves" artistically with a game rather than delivering the exact package gamers feel they want before buying.) Usually, who cares if something about a video game leaks... it's a fucking video game, relax! However, in the current market of high production costs and tight margins, the heated finances suddenly make this more than just fun and games.

 

[Last Hearth]

Come on, let's face it, the investor would not have pulled funding if the game itself was promising, they probably were already considering canceling the project and this was simply the last straw.