The Tragic Downfall of 3D Realms
On the 14th of December 2023, 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks were hit with layoff’s by their Parent company Embracer Group. According to industry veteran and 3D realm’s founder Scott Miller “At least half the company (Slipgate/3DR) is laid off” He also stated that many “Core Dev’s“ where laid off.
When asked how this development would affect 3D realms upcoming games such as Tempest Rising and Phantom Fury, Scott miller said “I mean, how can it not?“ While most of the Boomer Shooter community came out in support of those affected. We meanwhile we’re celebrating, because we know about 3D realms true colours.
There are several incidents that have occurred in the years following the embracer group buyout that may or may not have sealed 3D realms fate, Let’s take a look at them shall we?
Let’s start with something tame, When you think back to the glory day’s of gaming what comes to mind? That’s right, Game’s working flawlessly right out the box. Back in the day, update’s where a rarity as the internet was still in it’s infancy and download speed’s where not up to snuff, It could take multiple hours just to download a single Doom Wad.
Developers knew this and put plenty of effort into QA testing to make sure there games where as flawless as possible. So when Kingpin: Reloaded was announced gamers were expecting Slipgate Ironworks to handle this classic game with the dignity it deserves. But unfortunately for them they were mistaken.
The game was a buggy mess. Overblown lenses flares would obscure your view during gameplay and cutscenes. Enemies would get stuck shaking in mid-air and Rat’s would get stuck on stool’s and spin rapidly. It was a disaster and a far cry from the nostalgia trip Kingpin fans were expecting.
Gmanlives, a popular FPS reviewer warned his Twitter follower’s not to buy the game.
“If you’re thinking of picking up Kingpin Reloaded, my advice is, don’t. It’s super buggy right now and has lots of weird issues with shadows and lighting.”
Botching the remaster of a cult classic game is one thing but promoting problematic individuals at your event is something else.
It’s no coincidence that these Layoffs occurred a couple months after Realms Deep 2023, which features guest appearances from Bridgeburner and Major Arlene. Two Individual’s who used Kiwifarms to get Tran’s, Jewish, LGBTQ and Autistic people kicked from the Doom community.
Major Arlene has been a quest of honour at Realms Deep for several years running. She even got to do a segment at Realms Deep 2021 where she talked about the history of Doom mapping, I wish I was making that up. The woman who shoved 20 archvilles under a staircase is giving you a lecture on the History of Doom modding, Screw that.
Why not get someone who’s actually a professional modder like BPRD, Sergeant MK4, Kinsie or Dare I say, Tormentor, To do this segment?
BridgeBurner’s Company Hellforge Studios was also in attendance where they showed off two games. Age of Hell, which blatantly steal enemies from doom. And Divine Frequency, which look’s like Total Chaos if we had Total Chaos at home.
During the stream we reached out to 3D realms to ask why Hellforge Studio’s was allowed to participate in the event, the Stream moderators promptly banned us without a response.
Now some people might argue that “It’s not 3D realms fault that Bridge and Arlene are insane Megalomaniac’s who out trans people and uses Kiwifarms.“ I mean It is there fault for not doing any background check’s. But this final story was something that they had complete control over and they still messed it up.
Everyone knows about Ion Fury, It’s credited alongside Dusk and Amid Evil as being one of the FPS’s that popularised the Boomer Shooter renaissance. However even back then, there was a secret area that would act as an omen of thing to come.
In Ion Fury a fictional soap brand called “OGAY“ can be found. Additionally During the first boss fight, if the player Activated noclip and flew out of bounds they would find a hidden room containing the word “F*gbag“.
The Developers where also exposed for making Transphobic comments in the games official Discord server. One Dev Mblackwell used the term “SJW“ in a derogatory context, a lead developer Terminx chimed in calling Social Justice Warriors “Fucking Nuts“.
Another Dev, Daedolon compared the process of Transitioning to mutilation, Transphobic rhetoric that’s still being used today.
3D realms made a response where they claimed that the developers would undergo mandatory sensitivity training and $100,000 would be donated to the Trevor Project. The room with the F slur was removed but when asked why they didn’t remove the soap brand 3D realm said this:
“Jokes at the expense of marginalized communities will not be present in future games published by 3D Realms. However, a portion of our community made it loud and clear they felt removing “Ogay” was censorship and should be protected by free speech. Voidpoint wanted to listen and we respected this decision.”
3D realms decided to bend to the knee of one of the most Hateful and bigoted communities in the internet in the name of so called “Freedom of Speech“, this cowardly decision would set a precedent that has haunted the Boomer Shooter industry ever since.
And that is why 3D realms deserved their fate.
