Thread by @soulmauler

🐦 Thread on @OwlcatGames: A Tale of Chauvinism, Questionable Choices, and Oligarch Ties 🕵️‍♂️

1/ So, apparently, Owlcat Games believes in diversity, but not the good kind. Rumor has it they embrace chauvinists and Russia sympathizers. Because nothing says "great workplace" like promoting individuals who legitimize questionable actions. 🤷‍♂️

2/ Meet Nikolai Samborsky, Owlcat's lead cinematic artist. He used to grace Twitter with ethnic slurs against Ukrainians. Classy move, right? When called out, he pulled a Houdini, deleting his account. But guess what? The tweets may be gone, but the stench lingers.

3/ Oh, and let's not forget Anatoly Shestov, Owlcat's executive producer. He apparently played footsie with Russia's occupation of Crimea, doing business there and flaunting it on social media. Because who needs to respect international law anyway? 🌍💼

archive.is/5FVRK

4/ Owlcat Games, the company that hears no evil, sees no evil. They were made aware of these issues, but silence speaks louder than words. In fact, inquiries were met with a ban spree. Ignorance is bliss, right? 😶🚫

5/ But wait, there's more! Owlcat's business decisions are like a mystery novel—suspenseful and questionable. Like that time they posted a job opening in Moscow. Oops, did someone forget they're supposed to be in Cyprus? 🌐🔍


web.archive.org/web/2023011512…
web.archive.org/web/2023011512…

6/ Let's dive into Owlcat's shady ties. GEM Capital, an investment fund with links to Russia's natural resources market, had a cozy deal with Owlcat. But poof! The deal vanished from GEM's history, leaving us all wondering why. 🕵️‍♀️💼

7/ And then there's , the not-so-distant parent of Owlcat. Expats from fill Owlcat's management, carrying their Russian ties like a badge of honor. Ilya Karpinskiy, ex-CEO of MGVC, plays puppet master with multiple video game firms. Mail.Ru
Mail.Ru

8/ Karpinskiy's web extends to Cyprus and Russia, with multiple ventures under his belt. Owlcat Games, Postmeta Games, The Games Fund – he's the guy pulling the strings. Is this a tangled web or just a way to dance around legalities? 💃🕸️

9/ Ukrainian gaming community, beware! Owlcat Games seems indifferent to their employees' chauvinism and cozy with Russia's questionable activities. Profits from their games might just be fueling Russia's military adventures. 😱💸

archive.ph/fPVVh

10/ In conclusion, Owlcat Games, it's time to clean house. The gaming community deserves better than chauvinism, questionable decisions, and ties to oligarchs. Investigate, question, and shine a light on the truth. Chauvinism has no place in gaming. 🎮🚫

Hold onto your gaming chairs, folks! The plot thickens as we delve into the tangled web of Owlcat Games' affiliations. Meet Mikhail Akulov, the mastermind behind Hobby World, Sun Strike Studios' Russian office, and the LLC known as Krista. 🧩💼

The intrigue deepens as we uncover the history of Krista's evolution. Founded and operated by Owlcat's co-founder, Oleg Shpilchevskiy, until mid-2022, it now falls under the watchful eye of Akulov. But why the sudden shift? 🤔

What's in a name, you ask? Well, everything! Krista's hiring postings under the moniker "Area of Games" raise eyebrows. Is this a subtle maneuver to operate under different guises, or just a coincidence? We'll let you be the judge. 👀🕵️‍♀️

But wait, there's more to this story. Krista/Area of Games isn't just about job postings. It openly dabbled in the affairs of Owlcat Games, listing them as the founding entity until a few weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Curious, isn't it? 🤨🗓️

The plot thickens even further with the notion that Owlcat's CEO might be using Krista/Area of Games as an "umbrella shell" company. A convenient loophole to bring Russian talent into studios technically under Cyprus jurisdiction. Crafty or shady? You decide. 🤔🌐

Now, let's talk financing. The money trail leads us to GEM Capital, fueled by Russian oligarchs. Is this the grand plan – a maze of shell companies, legally dubious maneuvers, and financial backing from the shadows? It's starting to sound like a spy novel! 🕵️‍♂️💸

Owlcat Games, the gaming community demands answers. Is this a smoke-and-mirrors act or a genuine attempt to navigate complex legalities? Your ties, practices, and affiliations are under scrutiny. The gaming world deserves transparency and accountability. 🌐🎮

All the information about Owlcat's shady affairs (with the links!)
👇👇👇



PLEASE SHAREdocs.google.com/document/d/1wu…

LMAO

Owlcat just banned me from Rogue Trader Steam comminity hub after I shared link about the studio’s connections with russian oligarchs 🙃

btw, here's the link: docs.google.com/document/d/1wu…

Really, @Steam?

@Steam It turns out that Owlcat's Lead Game Designer Nick Filatov (@vedmich) also tried to delete the Ukrainophobic tweet with a joke about lard. Unfortunately for him, I saw this coming and managed to save the tweet. 🤷‍♂️