Gunzilla Games CEO Vlad Korolev is facing public allegations from current and former staff regarding months of unpaid wages while defending the studio's development practices and financial management.

Key Points

• Current and former employees claim Gunzilla Games has failed to pay wages for months, with some staff reporting they were ghosted by management.
• CEO Vlad Korolev acknowledged payment delays for contractors, attributing them to cost optimization and cash flow management rather than financial instability.
• Former senior VFX animator Paul Creamer alleged he worked for three months without pay based on assurances from leadership that the company was profitable.
• Korolev defended the studio's intense work culture, stating that employees have operated without a "work-life balance" for six years to ship their project.
• The studio, which acquired Game Informer in 2025, continues to promote its NFT-based battle royale game, Off the Grid, despite low concurrent player counts on Steam.

Why it Matters

These allegations highlight significant labor concerns within the web3 gaming sector and raise questions about the financial transparency of independent studios. The public dispute between leadership and staff could impact investor confidence and the long-term viability of the company's flagship title.