Midnight Society Hit With Significant Layoffs Following Dr Disrespect Drama

by

Midnight Society Hit With Significant Layoffs Following Dr Disrespect Drama

Key Takeaways

  • Midnight Society lays off staff after Dr Disrespect drama, Deadrop release delayed to 2025.
  • Studio initially cut ties with Disrespect but intended to proceed with game launch.
  • Deadrop’s release set in 2025, Dr Disrespect returns to streaming with legal threats.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Midnight Society and their tumultuous journey. The studio, once brimming with promise, now finds itself embroiled in a storm brewing from the drama surrounding Dr Disrespect. It’s a tough pill to swallow when a much-anticipated game like Deadrop gets delayed, especially after the initial hype and excitement it generated.

The game development company Midnight Society, jointly founded by popular YouTube streamer Dr Disrespect, has undergone substantial staff reductions following the streamer’s recent scandal. Established as a top-tier studio in 2021, Midnight Society unveiled its debut project, Deadrop, in early 2022. This upcoming game, a vertical first-person extraction shooter, was initially slated for release in 2024; however, it seems the studio has been hit by the fallout from Disrespect’s recent issues.

In June 2024, allegations surfaced that Dr Disrespect had sent inappropriate messages to a minor through Twitch private messages, leading to his permanent ban from the platform back in 2020. He acknowledged exchanging texts with a minor in 2017, which resulted in him losing various partnerships. Amid this controversy, Midnight Society severed ties with Dr Disrespect; however, they reiterated their dedication to producing Deadrop. One of the studio’s co-founders, Robert Bowling, explained that Disrespect was hired primarily to attract a larger audience, but his scandal would not hinder the 2024 release of Deadrop. However, it appears that this strategy has been revised, as the company is currently facing significant reductions in its development team.

The team at Midnight Society has undergone some significant changes, with layoffs affecting several members. This announcement also includes a delay in the release of their game, Deadrop, which is now scheduled for 2025. Robert Bowling, from Deadrop’s official news account Variant Intel, made this announcement on Twitter. In his statement, he acknowledged the hardship this day brings and reiterated his commitment to supporting the development team. He expressed hope that those who are leaving Midnight Society will one day return to the community and game legacy they helped create. This decision occurs during Dr Disrespect’s resumption of streaming, with many of his fans expressing admiration for his comeback.

Midnight Society Faces Significant Cuts in Development Team

Despite initially planning to release Deadrop this year, even after its separation from Dr Disrespect, Midnight Society remained optimistic. However, on September 9, Bowling announced another update regarding Deadrop, stating that the game is now slated for a 2025 release window instead. He assured the community that they would soon disclose their revised plans and milestones, expressing gratitude for the faith in their vision. As per JOK5RR, a content creator for Deadrop, roughly half of Midnight Society’s development team was let go; however, the studio has yet to confirm this number.

In his latest live broadcast, Dr Disrespect didn’t explicitly address Deadrop, but he did make various comments concerning his Twitch ban controversy. He asserted that the individual he texted was above the age of consent at the time of their exchange. Moreover, he hinted at his plans to take legal action against Cody Conners, a former Twitch employee who initially accused him of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. Despite being expelled from Twitch’s Partner Program, Dr Disrespect has persisted with streaming on YouTube and announced that he will resubmit an application for monetization on September 25.

Read More

2024-09-12 04:54