For those unaware of who Catalyst Game Labs are, they’re the people behind the current round of BattleTech, Shadowrun and other interesting game material. For me, they’re the people who make BattleTech, and – as a result – I’m always interested in how they’re doing.
Rumours began to leak out today about problems in Catalyst-land: funds had been embezzled, and the company was on the verge of collapse. Freelancers hadn’t been paid, and one of the staff, Adam Jury, was no longer with the company.
Catalyst Game Labs have just issued a press release about the situation at the company; very quick work there.
A summary:
* The company was going strong, growing well, then they did an financial review.
* The company was going strong, growing well, then they did an financial review.
* Funds from the company had become “co-mingled” with personal funds of one of the founders
* That founder now owes the company a substantial balance and is “working to help rectify the situation”.
* Freelancers who haven’t been paid as a result of this review, should be.
It’s a nice press release. It leaves me feeling hopeful for the fate of Catalyst, because I’ve been quite happy with their progress recently. It also sheds a bit of light on why certain products haven’t been turning up: the 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set for BattleTech and the print version of the BattleTech RPG being two I care about. Shadowrun players would have their own MIA products, no doubt.
Can Catalyst pull out of this? I have no idea. I’d like to hope they can. I really don’t want a disruption to the BattleTech license. We’ll have to wait and see. It is not improbable that CGL will fold and a new company will take over BattleTech and Shadowrun…