Gunzilla Games, the studio behind blockchain battle royale Off the Grid and current owner of legacy games publication Game Informer, is facing serious allegations from both former and current employees. According to a report from GamesIndustry.biz, staff claim the company has failed to pay salaries for multiple months.
The accusations paint a troubling picture for a studio that has been positioning itself as a major player in the live service and web3 space. Off the Grid launched in early access last year with considerable fanfare, including a high-profile creative partnership with director Neill Blomkamp, but those ambitions now appear to be colliding hard with financial reality.
Game Informer caught in the fallout
The situation carries extra weight given Gunzilla's ownership of Game Informer. The outlet was famously shut down by previous owner GameStop in August 2024 before Gunzilla swooped in to revive it - a move that was widely welcomed by the gaming community at the time. With salary payments now allegedly going missing, questions are mounting about the long-term stability of that revival and what it means for the publication's staff and editorial independence.
Unpaid wages are among the most serious accusations that can be leveled at a games studio, and the breadth of the claims - spanning both current and former employees - suggests this isn't an isolated payroll error. If accurate, it signals significant cash flow problems at the company level rather than an administrative oversight.
Wider context in a turbulent industry
This comes at a moment when the broader games industry is still working through a wave of layoffs and studio closures that began in 2023 and has continued into 2025. Several blockchain and web3-focused studios have struggled to convert initial hype into sustainable revenue, and Gunzilla may be encountering those same headwinds.
Neither Gunzilla Games nor representatives for Off the Grid have publicly responded to the allegations at the time of writing. GamesIndustry.biz's full report contains additional detail from the individuals who came forward, and it's worth reading if you want the complete picture on what employees are describing. This is a developing story, and the implications for both the studio and Game Informer's future are significant.
