The protracted and unpleasant dispute between the developers from the Ukrainian studio Frogwares and the French publisher Nacon continues. Game The Sinking City, which is the subject of the dispute, did return to Steam, but the authors advise players not to buy it. Respectively, they claim that they are not the authors of the version that appeared on Steam on Friday, with the proviso that they will soon share more information.
The Frogwares are listed directly in the Steam profile, and the release date is February 26, 2021, although the game was originally released in June 2019 and coincidentally received an upgraded PS5 version last week. The title is now sold on Steam with a 60% discount for just 16 euros. Paradoxically, a warning from Frogwares also appeared directly in the community center of the game in the news section, before it was later removed.
With Czech, but without DLC
The official website of the developers does not subscribe to the version on Steam, of course, and the team is behind the edition, which is available on the portal Gamesplanet. However, it does not seem to contain Czech, while the Steam version does. The title normally sells on Gamesplanet for less than $ 50. He is now on a 15 percent discount for less than $ 43.
Players on Steam claim that the version from the publisher is out of date, does not contain achievements, DLC and does not offer cloud storage. Nacon faces considerable criticism here. Fans loyal to Frogwares attack the publisher, saying that the game has no one to buy and the developers will certainly not get a share of the sales. Most of them point out that they do not evaluate the game itself.
Frogwares has not created the version of @thesinkingcity that is today on sale on @Steam. We do not recommend the purchase of this version. More news soon.
— Frogwares (@Frogwares) February 26, 2021
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The title was marked by a series of conflicts between Frogwares and Nacon. The Sinking City from Steam for the first time disappeared in August last year along with other platforms. Both sides subsequently blamed from non-compliance with contracts and fraud. Nacon began returning game on various platforms to digital distribution in January, but the court battle continues. However, the Paris court had a preliminary ruling point out Frogwares not to violate the terms of their contract with Nacon and to refrain from further actions that would affect the contract until the dispute is resolved.
It was on the basis of this measure that the publisher opened the door for The Sinking City to return to distribution on some platforms. Even before the release of the Nacon version, however, the Frogwares tried to release their own version on Steam in January. However, it was only available for a short time and it was soon withdrawn from sale.
According to them, the French company also tried to appropriate the rights to the brand of the Ukrainian studio.
For a change, the developers have accused publishers from the beginning of owing them development money and commissions of one million euros. According to them, the French company also tried to appropriate the rights to the brand of the Ukrainian studio. Both sides, of course, confidently declare that the law is on their side and are the victims.
The media has been trying to get a more comprehensive statement from Frogwares and Nacon since Saturday, but so far in vain. The distribution channels that sell the game are also indirectly involved in this dispute. In this case, especially Valve and their Steam, which, according to the developers, sells an unauthorized version.
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