Telltale Games Co-Founder, Former CEO Sues Company

Kevin Bruner, the co-founder and ex-CEO of Telltale Games is pursuing legal action against the game studio after a breach of contract established when he resigned in 2017.

In March 2017, Bruner announced his resignation from the company. He stated that "the time has come to pass the reins to someone that can better drive Telltale to the next level and realize all the potential that is here." Since then, the company has shifted its scope and trimmed their headcount to better meet their goals.

And yet, these actions aren't why Bruner is filing a lawsuit against the company. According to Bruner, Telltale was contractually required to provide Bruner with support in selling his holdings but alleges that company bosses soon cut off communication with him, denying its obligations.

Telltale's legal representation has responded, claiming the case was "meritless" and "an apparent means of extracting revenge on a company already under financial strain". While the company attempted to have the case thrown out, Judge Roy Chernus ruled that the complaint required additional examination.

Due to the confidentiality and financial privacy, much of the case has not been made publicly accessible.

Bruner had developed a reputation for himself at the company. Former Telltale employees have claimed he was abrasive and stubborn. They felt that the game had to be tailored to his tastes, on the false idea that Bruner's taste was everyone's.

Inversely, current Telltale CEO Pete Hawley was a former Zynga executive before taking this new position. Zynga has an even stronger history of being unapologetically self-serving. It would not surprise me any to hear that the new CEO was intentionally disregarding Bruner in an effort to free themselves from financial obligation.

Bruner's case will return next month, stay tuned.