Skullgirls Developer Stops Production and Initiates Lawsuit Against Publisher

Summary of Recent Events Surrounding Skullgirls Development

Hidden Variable Studios has halted all Skullgirls-related projects amid a conflict with publisher Autumn Games.
The developer asserts that Autumn Games owes $1.25 million for services provided, citing a breach of contract.
Autumn Games has vowed continued support for Skullgirls and plans to enhance its game universe.

Hidden Variable Studios, the creator of the mobile adaptation of Skullgirls, has officially put a stop to all development work on the title. This decision arises from ongoing disputes with their publisher, Autumn Games. The original Skullgirls game debuted in 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360, quickly gaining popularity for its engaging gameplay. This 2D tag-team fighter drew inspiration from the acclaimed Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, allowing players to select between standalone characters or teams comprising two to three fighters, thus delivering an array of gameplay styles and team configurations.

In 2015, a revised edition titled Skullgirls 2nd Encore made its way to the PS4 and various Japanese arcades. Subsequently, in 2020, Hidden Variable Studios launched Skullgirls Mobile, which has seen continuous support over the last five years. The studio has also played an integral role in enhancing the original Skullgirls experience by assisting with platform ports and consistently providing new content. Additionally, they have contributed to the related webtoon series, further enriching the franchise’s narrative landscape.

On March 5, Hidden Variable confirmed that it had filed a lawsuit against Autumn Games in the Los Angeles Superior Court, citing breach of contract and other related grievances. As per the information disclosed by Games Industry.biz, the developer claims that Autumn Games owes a total of $1, 227, 308.98, stemming from unpaid invoices between November 2024 and January 2025, along with projected unpaid sums until mid-March. Hidden Variable had given the publisher a deadline of January 21 to address this financial discrepancy.

Allegations of $1.25 Million Debt by Autumn Games as per Hidden Variable

Official Hidden Variable Statement Regarding Skullgirls Development pic.twitter.com/GCbKrinDPq — Hidden Variable (@Hidden_Variable) March 6, 2025

Following Autumn Games’ failure to release the owed payments, Hidden Variable provided the necessary login credentials for Skullgirls Mobile to facilitate ongoing community support. In their announcement, the developers expressed gratitude toward the community and showcased pride in their contributions to both Skullgirls Mobile and 2nd Encore over the last decade.

Official Autumn Games announcement on the development of Skullgirls. Please join the conversation here:https://t.co/mh0HmPrIGx https://t.co/YwPlhveoNZ pic.twitter.com/sqM6MyKneI — Skullgirls Mobile (@sgmobile) March 6, 2025

In response, Jason Donnell, the CEO and co-founder of Autumn Games, provided assurance through social media that support for Skullgirls would persist. Their studio, which also engages in game development, has taken on the responsibility of continuing the project and expanding the universe’s narratives and gameplay elements. Notably, Autumn Games had already assumed control of development a few months prior and is actively working on the introduction of guilds for Skullgirls, set to debut later this year.

Interestingly, sentiments within the Skullgirls community appear mixed following Hidden Variable’s exit. Some community members expressed satisfaction with the change, while others voiced concerns regarding the continuity of content updates and game support. Meanwhile, the original developers of Skullgirls, Reverge Labs, have seen several of their former members form a new entity known as Future Club. This indie studio canvasses support for developers including Hidden Variable and Autumn Games on Skullgirls 2nd Encore, though no public comment has been made regarding the ongoing lawsuit between Hidden Variable and Autumn Games.

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