Gunzilla Games, the studio behind the NFT-infused battle royale Off The Grid, stands accused by current and former employees of withholding salaries for months—despite CEO Vlad Korolev's personal assurances of profitability and prompt payments. Multiple LinkedIn posts detail the saga: former head of talent acquisition Anna Savina reports 'significant outstanding debt' covering several months, with the CEO ignoring inquiries; Senior VFX Animator Paul Creamer worked unpaid through October to December 2025 on promises from upper management; QA developer Vladyslav Makarevych hasn't seen pay since September 2025; and others like concept artist Andrew Snitsar (five months owed after five years) and contractor Rayan Tiraghan (three months) echo the pattern. Revoked access to company tools and a recent registration change only deepen the 'fog,' as Savina puts it.

This isn't isolated dysfunction. Gunzilla endured multiple layoff rounds in 2025, including a second wave in July confirmed by the studio itself, amid restructuring tied to financial pressures. Yet in March 2025, they acquired the shuttered Game Informer magazine, claiming editorial independence for the revived outlet. Off The Grid entered early access in October 2024 with blockchain features on Epic (blocked elsewhere), but Steam charts show concurrent peaks dipping below 15,000 players by early 2026—far from the 450,000 daily actives hyped earlier.

Employee receipts paint a clear picture: Korolev's December 2025 department call promised invoices 'as soon as possible,' calling delays 'growing pains' for a 'profitable' company. No such resolution followed. Community whispers on Reddit's r/OffTheGridGame extend to unpaid tournament winners and contest prizes, with X lighting up via Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson and Kotaku's coverage. Gunzilla has offered no comment.

Promises of family and profitability ring hollow when mail access vanishes and wages evaporate. The blockchain dream's house of cards shows familiar cracks.