Gunzilla Games, the studio behind the high-profile blockchain-integrated battle royale Off the Grid, is currently navigating a storm of controversy. While the developer recently made headlines for resurrecting the iconic Game Informer brand, it is now facing serious allegations regarding delayed compensation for its workforce. Reports from various former employees suggest that some staff members have gone months without receiving their salaries.
Gunzilla CEO Vlad Korolev addressed these concerns on X (formerly Twitter), characterizing the complaints as “FUD” (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) orchestrated by “haters.” He argued that while certain payments are “scheduled in a way that works for the company’s cash flow,” the studio remains committed to honoring every obligation. However, the narrative from the ground paints a more complex picture of the studio’s internal operations.
Rising Allegations from Former Staff
The situation gained significant visibility on LinkedIn when former senior animator Paul Creamer disclosed that he had not been paid since October 2025. Creamer detailed a December meeting where Korolev reportedly assured staff of the company’s profitability and requested their silence while they continued to work. Creamer alleges that these promises were misleading and that the company has since attempted to suppress dissent by removing critical social media posts.
This sentiment was echoed by Anna Savina, Gunzilla’s former head of talent acquisition. After three years with the studio, Savina reported facing significant outstanding debt spanning several months. Following her public statement and the subsequent social media traction, she later updated her post to confirm her specific financial issues had been resolved.
Staff Claims Summary
| Staff Member | Role | Reported Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Creamer | Senior Animator | Unpaid for multiple months; alleged lack of transparency from leadership. |
| Anna Savina | Head of Talent Acquisition | Reported months of professional debt; later resolved after public outcry. |
| Oleksii Zhestianenko | QA Engineer | Laid off in August; reports final pay still outstanding. |
| Anton Palii | Senior QA Engineer | Claims 5 months of missed pay and termination after confronting the CEO. |
The Executive Perspective: Growth vs. Cash Flow
In his defense of the studio, Korolev made a sharp distinction between “full-time official employees” and contractors. He asserted that official salaries have never been delayed by more than a week, though this claim is contested by Savina, who identified as a full-time employee. Korolev’s stance is that Gunzilla is “optimizing costs,” a trend he claims is currently sweeping through the gaming and tech industries.
As a dynamic storyteller in the tech space, TechTalesLeo notes that Korolev’s rhetoric focuses heavily on the success of Off the Grid as “the biggest web3 game ever created.” The CEO emphasized a grueling work culture, stating that the team has never operated in a “work-life balance” mode, prioritizing the progress of the project above individual scheduling needs.
Off the Grid Performance and NFT Stability
Despite the internal friction, Off the Grid remains a notable title in the PC games market. Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, the game maintains a daily concurrent player count in the thousands. While user reviews on Steam are currently mixed (55% positive), the game initially benefited from high-profile creative involvement, including District 9 director Neil Blomkamp.
However, the financial health of the project is often linked to its digital economy. The game’s premium currency, the Gunz token, which is tradable on the OpenSea NFT marketplace, saw a significant price drop shortly after launch. Digital Tech Explorer’s analysis suggests that the lack of recovery in token value may be placing additional pressure on the studio’s ability to manage liquid assets, potentially leading to the “cash flow” scheduling Korolev mentioned.
For developers and tech enthusiasts, the Gunzilla saga serves as a cautionary tale regarding the volatile intersection of digital innovation and sustainable business management. As the industry continues to evolve, transparency remains the most valuable currency for any studio looking to maintain both its staff and its reputation.