Chucklefish responds to allegations it exploited Starbound volunteers

Chucklefish has formally responded to allegations it exploited a number of volunteer contributors when it launched Starbound back in 2016.

Damon Reece – who is credited as a writer on the space exploration game – revealed on Twitter that they had worked “hundreds of hours” for free “while the company made unbelievable amounts of money off of [their] labour, and that of around a dozen other unpaid workers”.

“I started out my gamedev career working on Starbound for almost two years. I was sixteen,” said Damon Reece on Twitter (thanks, PC Gamer). “I worked hundreds of hours and wasn’t paid a single cent for it while the company made unbelievable amounts of money off of my labour, and that of around a dozen other unpaid workers.

“A couple of them ended up working at the company. it doesn’t mean they weren’t exploited too. I spent a long time being very afraid that talking about this would tank my career,” Reece added. “But this is indisputable truth, and I am, for now, in a stable and safe position. so there you go.”

Others came forward to substantiate Reece’s claims, including graphic artist Rho Watson, concept artist Christine Crossley, and composer Clark Powell.

“Those who were passionate and wanted to help with the game that wasn’t a paid member was given a standard ‘contributor contract’ and told it was ‘industry standard’,” Watson told PC Gamer, acknowledging that while they were a paid contractor, many were not. “Put simply, it was either sign that contract and get your foot in the door or get out. A few people were happy to donate their time or just wanted to see their work in the game, but for most people who wanted to work their way up to a paid position, they’d be forced to sign that contract and waive any right to compensation.”