'Deadrop' Players Request Refunds Following Midnight Society Shutdown

Published on 3/13/2025, 2:42:49 PM

In the wake of the sudden shutdown of the esteemed gaming studio, Midnight Society, loyal devotees of the halted shooting game, Deadrop, have begun leveraging their financial institutions to demand refunds for their pre-bought access passes. The unexpected close of the gaming company has left early investors unexpectedly high and dry, their hopes dashed on the rugged rocks of contractual disputes and unfulfilled gaming dreams.

These gamers, left in the cold, have cleverly utilized the vacated communication platform on Discord to rally together. They have transformed this cyber-gathering place into a hub of knowledge-sharing, advising each other on effective strategies to recoup their investments. In the empty void left by the defunct Midnight Society, these passionate players have become their own Midnight Society of sorts on Discord, fighting for justice within the bleak winds of disappointment.

The game at the heart of the controversy, Deadrop, was a thrilling vertical extraction shooter. It was birthed from the minds at Midnight Society, a studio launched by none other than the infamous games streamer Dr. Disrespect. However, Dr. Disrespect’s involvement ended unceremoniously amidst allegations of unseemly conversations with minors, adding even more drama to the intricate web of discontent around the game.

Before its untimely demise, the game had spent a considerable duration of almost two years tantalizing players with early access glimpses. In its nascent stages, the studio had put up for sale limited edition NFT Founders Access Passes on the Polygon network, a prominent Ethereum scaling solution. These passes, for all intents and purposes, opened a door to the universe of Deadrop, granting users exclusive access to a fledgling gaming marathon waiting to explode.

Midnight Society diversified the ways players could join the Deadrop adventure, selling $25 Tower Key passes (sans the NFT aspect), followed by the coveted Drivers Keys ranging from $20-30. These keys held the promise of unlocking a treasure trove of in-game items spanning various degrees of rarities.

However, all the gamers' hopes came crashing down when Midnight Society abruptly ceased operations at the end of January 2025. The money they had collectively poured into this digital universe suddenly felt like throwing coins into a haunted well -- players felt they weren't going to get what they paid for. For instance, the lure of the Tower Key purchase was a gratis battle pass to the game's inaugural official season -- a future that now eerily seems to have vanished. Disgruntled buyers have responded by raising voices for partial refunds. Similarly, the Drivers Key holders are echoing similar sentiments, alleging they didn't receive any in-game items at all.

Take the case of a player known pseudonymously as "Jay". Presented with cryptographic evidence, Decrypt found that Jay had invested a staggering $449.80 in Deadrop Drivers Keys, with high hopes of enjoying a black-market boon like early access skins on Off the Grid’s pre-mainnet. However, Jay, amidst a circle of players on Discord, has been left pondering on how to redeem his heavy investment. With Caramel, a former moderator on Discord, aiding several other players in reclaiming their funds, hope remains.

Sadly, some players are finding this battle for reimbursement tougher than they had anticipated. Those who've paid through localized credit unions instead of the more robust banking institutions are especially feeling the pinch. With Midnight Society staying defiantly silent on Decrypt's inquiries and bank's inquiries, these players are stranded in an administrative no man’s land.

Jay, while hopeful for a positive outcome, accepts the sobering reality of his uphill battle. His fellow gaming enthusiasts have turned the Discord platform into a virtual town square, an echo chamber ringing with disparaging remarks on Midnight Society and its controversial founders. The persistent sales pitches and activities highlighted on the erstwhile company's website further fan the flames of dissatisfaction. Despite their disappointment, this collective Aesop's tale serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of the gaming world and the irreplaceable value of buyer vigilance.

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