The saga of Mythic Games has reached a grim conclusion. The financially troubled publisher has officially given up on fulfilling its $1.3 million Kickstarter campaign for Monsterpocalypse, leaving 6,300 backers in the lurch. This marks yet another failed crowdfunding project for Mythic, adding to a growing list of unmet promises and frustrated backers.
Since 2020, Mythic has become synonymous with crowdfunding woes. Backers of various campaigns have faced a litany of issues, from missing games and exorbitant extra shipping costs to the sale of backed game IPs without delivery. The Monsterpocalypse debacle is a painful reminder of the company’s downward spiral.
Mythic partnered with Monsterpocalypse IP holder Privateer Press in 2021 to launch the Kickstarter for a new product range. At that time, Mythic was a crowdfunding powerhouse, having raised nearly $10 million across several high-profile campaigns. These included Hel: The Last Saga, 6: Siege (based on the Rainbow Six Siege video game), and their largest, a Darkest Dungeon tabletop adaptation, which garnered over $5.6 million.
Despite early success, Mythic’s troubles began to surface. The pandemic’s impact on manufacturing and shipping, coupled with the high cost of producing miniature-heavy games, created a perfect storm. By 2022, Mythic was already subsidizing millions in unexpected costs. Yet, they continued launching new campaigns, even with multiple unfulfilled projects.
To recoup losses, Mythic resorted to asking backers for additional funds, sometimes hundreds of dollars, to receive their pledged games. This unprecedented move angered backers and further damaged the company’s reputation. Monsterpocalypse backers, who last heard from Mythic in March 2023, were ultimately left with nothing.
Mythic’s last official communication with Monsterpocalypse backers was almost two years ago, in March 2023, when it said it “remained committed” to the project and was “determined to deliver it as soon as our schedule allows” – adding that the game was “still a project that we care about and its delivery is still a priority”.
In a final blow, Mythic has now handed over all Monsterpocalypse assets to Privateer Press. While Privateer Press will provide STL files for backers to 3D print their own miniatures, this is a far cry from what was promised. Privateer Press expressed disappointment with the situation, emphasizing their commitment to future crowdfunding efforts being handled internally.
“We know this is no substitute for what backers pledged for, and we know that not everyone is in a position to be able to 3D print the models. But it is the one thing within our control that we can offer, and our hope is that it will help bring together some of the people that were looking forward to their new adventures with Monsterpocalypse.” “The fate of the Monsterpocalypse Kickstarter project was very much a fluke – definitely the result of a confluence of very unfortunate events”
Mythic’s downfall is a cautionary tale. The company has shed staff, sold off IPs (including Hel and Anastyr), and faces uncertain futures for its remaining projects, Rise of the Necromancers and Darkest Dungeon. Even Darkest Dungeon backers, who paid extra for “Wave 2” content, remain unsure if they will ever receive it.
The story of Mythic Games serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with crowdfunding and the importance of responsible project management. For the thousands of backers left empty-handed, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.
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