Skybound Entertainment announced earlier today that it had terminated its contract with Starbreeze Studios for Overkill’s The Walking Dead. This was because the game “did not meet our standards nor is it the quality that we were promised”, as per Skybound. In follow-up statement, Starbreeze have revealed that due to this license-related complaint, the game is “expected to be removed” from Steam in the near future.
“Skybound, the license holder of OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead, has filed a license related complaint with the main digital distribution platform for the Starbreeze game OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead. As a consequence, the product is expected to be removed from new purchases on Steam within a near future,” said the publisher.
If you’re wondering about the fate of season 2 and its content, then there might be some hope. The two companies are currently discussing the same and looking for an “amicable solution with the ambition to finish and deliver Season 2 of the game, as previously communicated.” Starbreeze’s acting CEO Mikael Nermark further stated, “We are deeply sorry for the issues this may cause anyone who has bought the game looking forward to the resolution of Season 2 and are working urgently to attempt to resolve the issue. Please keep an eye on the official OTWD channels for further news.”
Overkill’s The Walking Dead released in November 2018 for PC, with the console versions being delayed to 2019. It released underwhelming responses from critics, and according to reports from behind-the-scenes, the actual game was put together over just year and a half of development. Overkill Software continued to support it with post-launch story missions, but the game’s sales were lower than expected, having a “negative impact on fourth-quarter earnings” for Starbreeze.