Mythic Games, a tabletop role-playing and board game company, has filed for liquidation. This isn’t horribly surprising given their history especially given the numerous controversies the company faced. This was most noticeable in the crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter. The controversies typically center around delays, unfulfilled promises, and miscommunication with backers.
Notable Controversies:
1. Significant Delays in Delivery:
One of the most common complaints from backers involves the extended delays in fulfilling Kickstarter promises. While delays are not uncommon in crowdfunded projects, Mythic Games has had several high-profile cases where games were delivered years after the expected date. For instance, campaigns like Reichbusters: Projekt Vril and Solomon Kane faced long delays due to production challenges and shipping issues, frustrating many backers.
2. Poor Communication:
Mythic Games has been criticized for its inconsistent communication with backers. During the development process, many backers have reported long periods of silence, lack of transparency, and vague or incomplete updates. This has led to growing frustration, with some backers accusing the company of withholding information regarding the status of production or shipping.
3. Unmet Stretch Goals and Missing Content:
Some Mythic Games campaigns promised a range of additional content through stretch goals, but these promises were not always fulfilled as expected. Backers of games like Super Fantasy Brawl and Joan of Arc expressed dissatisfaction when some expansions, miniatures, or exclusive components were either delayed indefinitely or delivered with lower quality than expected. In certain cases, some of the pledged content was omitted entirely, which led to accusations of false advertising.
4. Financial Difficulties and Project Management:
There have been concerns about how Mythic Games manages its finances. With multiple overlapping Kickstarter campaigns, some backers feared that the company was overextending itself. Rumors circulated that funds from later projects were being used to fulfill older campaigns, a practice known as “Kickstarter juggling,” which undermines trust and leads to significant delays in new projects.
In late 2022, the company acknowledged financial difficulties due to rising production costs, shipping challenges, and global economic pressures. This raised further concerns about the sustainability of their business model, as some projects were delayed even further due to these complications.
5. Time of Legends: Joan of Arc Lawsuit:
One of the more dramatic controversies involved the Time of Legends: Joan of Arc campaign. Mythic Games faced legal issues over the use of certain miniatures, which led to delays in production. The company had to resolve these issues through the court system, which further delayed fulfillment and added costs. Backers were left in the dark during much of this process, which only heightened their frustration.
6. Shipping Costs Controversy:
In some campaigns, like Anastyr and Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game, backers were hit with unexpected increases in shipping costs after the campaigns had closed. Mythic Games cited rising global shipping rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors, but many backers felt blindsided. The sudden need to pay additional fees caused outrage, and some backers were left unable to afford the new costs, leading to dissatisfaction with the company’s handling of the situation.
7. Quality Control Issues:
For some projects that did get fulfilled, there were complaints about the quality of the delivered products. Miniatures arrived broken, poorly molded, or missing altogether. Card stock, rulebooks, and other components were sometimes of lower quality than backers expected based on the campaign prototypes. For games like Solomon Kane and Enchanters, this raised concerns about whether Mythic Games could maintain its high standards across multiple projects.
The controversies surrounding Mythic Games have severely impacted their reputation in the Kickstarter and tabletop gaming community. The ongoing issues with delays, financial transparency, and product quality have led many backers to approach new projects with caution.
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