Death threats are never a good idea.
After threatening to kill Valve Software chief executive officer Gabe Newell in a tweet, developer Mike Maulbeck of studio Code Avarice has resigned. In response to his post on social media, which Maulbeck claims was sarcastic, Valve’s Steam digital-download service pulled Code Avarice’s new shooter, Paranautical Activity, from its store. This will deeply damage the PA’s earning potential and the livelihoods of everyone who depends on its success since Steam is the biggest online distributor of PC games.
Maulbeck acknowledged his mistake and apologized for his actions in a blog where he announced his departure.
“I’m really, deeply sorry that my short sighted, hot-tempered actions resulted in not only my own dreams and aspirations being destroyed but those of the entire team I work with,” Maulbeck wrote. “I’m sorry that my statements made Valve and/or [Newell] uncomfortable and upset (rightfully so).”
Maulbeck sold his ownership in Code Avarice and its properties to the other members of the studio. He no longer has any financial stake in the studio, and he will have no part in the company.
“I feel is it my responsibility to step down from Code Avarice completely so that Steam has no reason to harbor any more ill will towards the company,” wrote Maulbeck. “And maybe even if we can’t see Paranautical Activity restored, at least future Code Avarice games may be allowed onto the platform.”
Maulbeck’s rant on Twitter was due to Paranautical Activity’s mislabeling on Steam as “Early Access,” which suggests the game is incomplete. This wasn’t the case, so the developer took to Twitter to complain.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME STEAM? WE JUST RELEASED OUT OF EARLY ACCESS AND THIS IS OUR FRONT PAGE BANNER? pic.twitter.com/Zfhj4VA8UX
— Mike Maulbeck (@SpooderW) October 20, 2014
With Maulbeck leaving Code Avarice, he says that he won’t try to start a new studio of his own. He notes that it is difficult for him to manage his temper with the temptation to vent on social media. It got him in trouble this time, and he expects that it could again. He says that if he does return to game development, he would only do so as an anonymous “1 out of 1,000” person team.