Ark: Survival Evolved Devs Settle Lawsuit with Trendy

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Ark: Survival Evolved Devs Settle Lawsuit with Trendy

//cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1312/1312888.jpgStudio Wildcard has settled the lawsuit filed against them by Trendy Entertainment.

You may remember a few weeks back when a lawsuit came to light [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/166999-Ark-Survival-Evolved-Legal-Troubles-on-the-Horizon#&gid=gallery_6074&pid=1] involving recent Steam Early Access hit Ark: Survival Evolved. That lawsuit has now been settled.

Terms of the settlement were not made public, but in a tweet earlier this week, Studio Wildcard co-founder Susan Stieglitz Reddit post [https://twitter.com/SusanCStieglitz/status/719987095796711424] containing a screenshot of what appears to be a Direct Message from Ms. Stieglitz to a fan stating that they "ended up settling for 40," which presumably means $40 million.

The only official word has been from a mediation disposition report filed by the attorneys on both sides of the suit, which stated, "A mediation conference was conducted on the 13th day of April 2016. The conference resulted in a final written settlement agreement." The case was supposed to be heard in court on April 27, where Trendy was planning to seek an injunction that might have stopped development and sales of Ark, if it were granted.

Ark: Survival Evolved has been a big hit on Early Access since June of last year, and on Xbox One since December. But one assumes that a $40 million settlement would have to have some effect on the developer. We'll have to wait and see what those effects might be.

We've reached to both sides in this suit requesting more information, and we'll update if we receive a response.

Ark: Survival Evolved is set to officially launch on PC, PS4, and Xbox One this summer.

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[American Fox]

It lawsuit looks lawsuit like lawsuit there lawsuit is lawsuit something lawsuit off lawsuit with lawsuit the lawsuit headline. Lawsuit.

 

[Objectable]

Your lawsuit isn't as nice as my TRENDY lawsuit. It gives me +2 to Charisma.

 

[ASnogarD]

You probably find that the cost to the Ark devs would of been more than 40 mil if the game was suspended until the case was resolved, so this was PROBABLY a legal hostage situation... either pay out less than the losses incurred, or take a huge hit in revenue which the accuser couldn't pay you back even if you won... a case of much easier to pay out than the win the legal fracas... ie, typical modern justice at work.

 

[SecondPrize]

Protip: Contracts and other provisions you sign still apply to you even if you don't want them to anymore.

 

[kenu12345]

Wasn't this lawsuit cause a previous employee from them decided to work on Ark. Sort of stupid. Surprised they managed to get that much money

 

[Rituro]

$40mil, you say? So, all Dungeon Defenders II DLC is now free forever, right?

 

[Bob_McMillan]

600 million, that's a riot.

 

[Tireseas_v1legacy]

600 million, that's a riot.

Not really. When you plead damages, you literally find the absolute highest amount possible based on whatever math gets you to that point. Think of a best-case scenario for a game title: $600 Million is not that unreasonable in that environment.

Now, it doesn't mean you'll get it, but it will set an upper limit for when you start settlement negotiations.

 

[Blitsie]

...Unrelated, but when is this game coming to PS4? I am SO waiting for it...

From what I've read it's gonna launch some time in June, not sure if this lawsuit might change that though.

 

[Naldan]

Reminds me of those judges who decide who wins in disputes between investors and gouvernments. As The Gentleman said:

600 million, that's a riot.

Not really. When you plead damages, you literally find the absolute highest amount possible based on whatever math gets you to that point. Think of a best-case scenario for a game title: $600 Million is not that unreasonable in that environment.

This is pretty accurate. If you can somehow prove that something you did could have made such and such amount of money under the best circumstances absolutely possible at any given time, and that somehow the other side, no matter who that is, decreased this through means not approved of by the right people, you're good to go.

You would be amazed at how much money changes hands, especially who has to pay who and who the judges are when it comes to gouvernmentx vs. Dutch (brass plate) company of any origin.

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Just look who sues who, especially the country where it gets settled and in contrast where the suing company's origin is. Companies suing companies-cases in intellectual/creative industries and spheres rarely bear any kind of reason other than making lots of money. And the amount almost always is disproportionate.

 

[immortalfrieza]

You probably find that the cost to the Ark devs would of been more than 40 mil if the game was suspended until the case was resolved, so this was PROBABLY a legal hostage situation... either pay out less than the losses incurred, or take a huge hit in revenue which the accuser couldn't pay you back even if you won... a case of much easier to pay out than the win the legal fracas... ie, typical modern justice at work.

Which means that other companies will use the fact that the Ark Developers settled here as ammunition to win or settle other similar lawsuits, which other companies will use as justification for THEIR similar lawsuits, repeat ad infinitum. Modern justice isn't about who is right, it's about the two sides badgering each other until one decides to call it quits, especially when it comes to lawsuits.