Wings Interactive's Dark Secrets: Funding Scandal Uncovered!

The debate concerning Wings Interative, a suspected independent game financing organization linked with Sweet Baby Inc. (SBI) and Landfall Games, has taken an unexpected twist. In a recent expose by Gothic Therapy, led by MasterofTheTDS and Writing Raven, Wings Interactive’s co-founder admitted to receiving financial support from Landfall Games.

Following these disclosures, it appears that Wings Interactive is taking extensive measures to mitigate the situation – deleting accounts, expunging data, and choosing not to respond to queries.

Wings Interactive’s Alleged Deception

Over the past few months, Gothic Therapy has been delving into the real financial backers behind Wings Interactive, discovering intricate ties that challenge their assertion of self-funded indie game development.

Their previous report detailed how:

Wings Interactive was registered under a different name (Vingar Interactiva AB) and shared an address with Landfall Games.
Landfall Games co-founder Peter Henriksson was also a Vice CEO at Wings Interactive, despite not publicly listing this role.
Sweet Baby Inc. CEO Kim Belair previously sat on Wings Interactive’s selection board, raising questions about potential narrative influence in indie gaming.
Riot Games contributed $1 million to Wings Interactive in 2021, suggesting a much larger network of industry backing.

These findings caused Gothic Therapy to claim that Wings Interactive wasn’t actually an autonomous financing organization, but instead functioned as a hidden publishing company, enabling Landfall Games to maintain influence over independent game development without giving direct credit.

The Smoking Gun: Wings Interactive’s Own Co-Founder Speaks

According to the recent findings by Gothic Therapy, there’s a significant disclosure made by Audrey Leprince, one of the founders of Wings Interactive – she admitted that Landfall Games provided financial support to Wings Interactive during its initial phase.

As a passionate movie critic, let me share my perspective on this empowering journey. Speaking candidly, I found myself captivated by the potential of Wings, a project that sparked an idea within me: “I’ll pool resources and invest directly in women game developers.” I envisioned a focused approach, eliminating unnecessary distractions, and zeroing in on this inspiring cause.

Navigating the intricate web of French banks and gaming circles proved challenging, but my determination didn’t waver. Simultaneously, Peter from Landfall Studios, a fellow visionary based in Sweden, was facing similar hurdles. Our paths crossed at a critical juncture, each of us grappling with the same obstacles. It was then that we realized the power of unity and decided to join forces.

Landfall Games became our first financial backer, paving the way for Riot Games to also extend a generous investment of one million dollars towards various projects just a few weeks or months ago. This collaboration not only signifies the convergence of our dreams but also the beginning of a groundbreaking movement in the gaming world.

This appears to challenge earlier assertions that Wings functioned as an autonomous investment fund, potentially implying that Landfall Games might have utilized Wings Interactive covertly to finance and manage independent games, all the while preserving the appearance of a clear division.

The Ideological Connection: Gamergate and Industry Influence

According to the Gothic Therapy report, it’s possible that Wings Interactive had motives beyond just financial gains. In a panel discussion involving Wings Interactive’s representative, Cassia Curran, it was suggested that companies like Wings are deeply committed to countering the movement known as GamerGate.

Curran expressed his belief that incidents like GamerGate aren’t mere coincidences, given that the majority of game investors (97%) and developers (80%) are male. He suggested that this imbalance within the industry has influenced the content produced, which is why they aim to establish a more equitable and just environment for both PC and console gaming.

Gothic Therapy posits that this evidence suggests Wings Interactive wasn’t merely providing financial support to indie developers, but rather exerting creative control over game narratives to advance a specific ideological viewpoint. They argue that by using its financial influence, Wings Interactive subtly manipulated the content of games, presenting itself as an ally to “underrepresented” creators in the process.

Wings Interactive’s Disappearance from the Internet

Following these revelations, Wings Interactive has systematically erased its online presence.

Gothic Therapy reports that:

Wings deleted its X account for a time before returning.
Its TikTok and BlueSky accounts have been removed.
Its official Instagram has been set to private.
Employee names, board members, and selection committee members have been scrubbed from the website.
News articles and gaming pages, including a connection to Netflix Games, have been removed.

This large-scale deletion has sparked more curiosity and suspicion that Wings Interactive might be concealing certain information, instead of maintaining openness in their business dealings.

The Game Bakers and Government Grants

During their ongoing investigation, Gothic Therapy has further discovered links between Audrey Leprince and game projects funded by the government. Leprince is a co-founder of The Game Bakers, an independent studio, which received financial aid from the French government. Moreover, she holds positions on various boards that distribute government funds for video games.

Gothic Therapy poses a thought-provoking query: Was Wings Interactive similarly granted financial support from the government?

Although the companies have made efforts to erase their online presence, the swift vanishing of documents raises suspicions that someone is trying to prevent these queries from being addressed.

Convenient Timing: The “Games With Wings” Sale

As a discerning moviegoer, I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the timing of Wings Interactive’s sudden resurgence on social media, just as they’re gearing up for their annual “Games With Wings” sale. This event showcases games created by women developers, and it seems a bit too coincidental that their return to the digital limelight aligns so perfectly with this event. It’s like they’ve timed their comeback to ride the wave of this empowering initiative.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to express my perspective on Gothic Therapy’s theory. They suggest that this tactical maneuver aimed to steer the discussion away from their financial backing and refocus it onto a heartwarming, independent production.

MasterofTheTDS stated that they had stayed away from social media for a few days prior to the event, as what initially started as selling games transformed into an attempt to manipulate the storyline.

Final Challenge to Wings Interactive

In conclusion, the Gothic Therapy report issues a bold call-to-action to both Wings Interactive and Sweet Baby Inc., encouraging them to confront these findings openly, instead of choosing concealment.

“If you had nothing to hide, all you would need to do is address the claims,” MasterofTheTDS said.

It’s unmistakable: concealing digital footprints or striving for anonymity won’t hinder the probe. Gothic Therapy guarantees persisting revelations, illuminating the complex ties between finances and ideologies that influence independent gaming, through their archived data and relentless examination.

The circumstances involving Wings Interactive have grown dramatically, transforming what was previously a tranquil independent studio into a focal point of a widespread industry uproar. Allegations of secretive financial benefactors, ideological manipulation, and orchestrated concealment now swirl around the company.

Since Wings Interactive refuses to participate in constructive conversations and instead erases its online presence, the ongoing dispute is unlikely to fade away quickly. Gothic Therapy has pledged to persist with their investigation, empowering both gamers and developers to make educated choices about the influential entities in the gaming sector.

2025-03-07 02:07

Wings Interactive’s Dark Secrets: Funding Scandal Uncovered!