Kevin Bruner, co-founder and former CEO of Telltale Games, is suing the developer in a bid to recover money he alleges he is owed.
According to local newspaper the Marin Independent Journal, Bruner, who was sacked by Telltale Games in 2017, is alleging breach of contract regarding how he was removed from the company’s board of directors. According to the lawsuit, “The net effect of Bruner’s alleged removal from the board of directors was that Bruner was deprived of relevant insight into the management and financial state of Telltale and the value of its shares.”
Telltale Games has hit back robustly: the company’s lawyers described Bruner’s suit as “meritless,” and: “An apparent means of extracting revenge on a company already under financial strain. The Company is now working to turn around the decline that it experienced under Plaintiff’s stewardship.”
It’s indisputable that Telltale Games is currently enduring a tough time. In September 2017, well regarded Brit Pete Hawley was drafted in as CEO from Zynga, since when Telltale Games has laid off 90 employees. Hawley recently explained the move: “Our industry has shifted in tremendous ways over the past few years. The realities of the environment we face moving forward demand we evolve, as well, reorienting our organization with a focus on delivering fewer, better games with a smaller team.”
The last thing a regrouping developer needs is a lawsuit from an ex-CEO. The courtroom drama is set to play out in mid-July; we’ll bring you further news as it emerges.
