This week, popular electronic game streamer Guy “Dr. Disrespect” Beahm has been removed from the studio Midnight Society, following allegations of inappropriate chatting with a minor. As a co-founder and prominent figure in the streaming community, Beahm’s departure raises questions about the future of Midnight Society and its game, “Deadrop,” which has received attention partly due to Beahm’s involvement and the sale of NFT access passes.
On Monday, Midnight Society issued an official statement on Twitter, announcing the termination of their relationship with Beahm. On Tuesday, studio head and former Call of Duty developer Robert Bowling expressed his personal opinion on the matter. In a tweet, Bowling stated, “If you’re inappropriate with minors, I can’t work with you. Period. I made a commitment to act on facts, and I did.”
On Tuesday, Dr. Disrespect admitted to engaging in conversations with a minor that were “inappropriately geared in the wrong direction,” although he claimed that no illegal activities took place. In addition to Midnight Society, brand partners have also distanced themselves from Beahm following these allegations and his response.
Since Bowling’s comments, there has been no further news from Midnight Society. This has led Deadrop players and industry observers to speculate about the future of the project.
Jonah Blake, co-founder of Game Fund Partners, responded to Midnight Society’s statement on Twitter, saying, “Your game is dead in the water now.” He added, “Sadly, there were some talented players on that team.”
Other responses to Midnight Society’s announcement echoed this sentiment, with some criticizing the studio for not providing evidence to support their decision before Beahm’s own tweet.
In subsequent tweets, Blake clarified that he was referring to Dr. Disrespect’s significant role in game marketing and brand promotion, rather than the specific allegations and the studio’s response to them. Decrypt’s GG reached out to Blake for further comment but did not receive an immediate response.
The news of Beahm’s removal attracted a series of poop, clown, and middle finger emojis from fans on Discord.
Some supporters who had purchased NFTs for the project using the Ethereum scaling network Polygon have started demanding refunds. Discord user Tony wrote, “We better get refunds,” and then issued a bill to the server administrators. “To be honest, this game is a mess,” they added.
According to Midnight Society’s refund policy, NFTs cannot be refunded due to the irreversible nature of the on-chain minting process. The studio sold Founders Access Pass NFTs for $50 each in November 2022, followed by non-NFT “Tower Key” game passes for $25 starting in March 2023.
This week, the secondary market for NFTs saw a significant drop in prices, with Ethereum, which was valued at around $400 earlier in the week, dropping to approximately $150 at the time of writing. Their initial price in March 2023 had surpassed $1,500.
However, opinions on Midnight Society’s actions have changed following Dr. Disrespect’s admission. Now, considering the gravity of these allegations, the concept of the game’s death seems insignificant, and some Twitter users, such as Illuvium co-founder Kain Warwick, fiercely criticize those speculating about the game’s future. Nevertheless, this has not stopped the studio’s Discord from being filled with controversy after the host lifted any chat restrictions regarding sensitive topics.
“When he admitted to what he did and called it ‘inappropriate,’ my first thought was the studio had shot itself in the foot,” a Deadrop player and Tower Key holder who goes by the name Vox told Decrypt’s GG. “Now that viewpoint has changed, and I think Deadrop has a chance to recover depending on how they handle the early access. After all, a good game is a good game.”
While the community is in turmoil, some players simply hope for improvements in the game. Deadrop content creator and streamer Mayor Reynolds stated that despite the exposure of Dr. Disrespect, he remains committed to covering the game.
“I believe in the game and the studio’s vision. Deadrop itself as a game and its universe will lead us forward. It was never about one person,” Reynolds told Decrypt’s GG.
“The team behind the game is working hard to deliver Deadrop’s access style on PC and consoles later this year. I’m very excited about that.”
Decrypt reached out to Midnight Society and Dr. Disrespect’s representatives for comment on his dismissal but did not receive a response from either party.
Andrew Hayward, Editor
