Z1 Battle Royale Staff Members Saying Goodbyes, Game Going Back To Daybreak (Updated w/NantG Response)

Jason Winter
By Jason Winter, News Editor
Share:

Reports are coming in that something -- and it's not good -- is happening with Z1 Battle Royale, the rebranded PC version of H1Z1 under the auspices of NantG and Daybreak Game Company. Several developers for the game have appeared to have lost their jobs or been reassigned, such as its former combat designer:

And its community manager, who said that "it was a layoff for me and affected a couple of other people on the team as well." Executive Producer Anthony Castoro is now calling himself "Former Executive Producer of @Z1battleroyale."

Former CEO John Smedley, who no doubt still has contacts within Daybreak, also chimed in with his condolences:

As of this writing (about 6 p.m. Eastern), there's no official word from Daybreak or NantG. We'll update our piece when new information comes to light.

UPDATE: Lead Designer Adam "Arclegger" Clegg has been laid off.

UPDATE #2: Clegg has posted a much longer goodbye via TwitLonger. He thanks the players and most everyone else involved with the game, ranging from Anthony Castoro to John Smedley to Jimmy Whisenhunt to Jace Hall -- about whom he said the game "would’ve been shut down a while ago I can guarantee that." He also talked a little bit about the split of the H1Z1 BR mode from its survival roots, saying that he understood the move but "I don’t like how the survival team was handled afterwards and I feel like they deserved a better opportunity to thrive." He also chimes in on the controversial Combat Update, saying that he "Was very against it" but "Pressure was on the executives to make a move, it was just the wrong one."

UPDATE #3: NantG has posted a message to the Z1 Battle Royale Steam page, in which it states that it will be returning the game to Daybreak Game Company because "the road is still paved with many challenges that preclude us from long-term success, including the confusion it caused by having both NantG Mobile and Daybreak managing the same game under two separate brands." The message also stated that, during the transition back to Daybreak, they "don’t foresee any issues of this affecting your experience with Z1BR."

Sure, that part might be true. The game's transition back to its old owners might go smoothly. But in the long term? The game no longer has a lead designer, executive producer, community manager, and countless others. Like a shambling, decaying zombie, Z1 Battle Royale or H1Z1 or whatever you want to call it is unquestionably dead -- it just doesn't realize it yet.

Share:
Got a news tip? Contact us directly here!

About the Author

Jason Winter
Jason Winter, News Editor
Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer. He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.

Discussion (1)

Deathloche 3 years ago
The same thing that happened to MOBAs a few years ago is happening to BR. There are too many on the market and some has to go bye bye


Read Next

SMITE Update Improves Experience For New And Console Players

SMITE Update Improves Experience For New And Console Players

SMITE's Darkness Falls Update is up and running, bringing with it a new assault map changed by the events of Ragnarok.

By QuintLyn Bowers - 3 years ago

You May Enjoy

Blasting Waves Of Dinos Was Damn Fun... But Will The Rest Of Exoprimal Be? - A Open Beta Test Review

💣 Feature | Blasting Waves Of Dinos Was Damn Fun... But Will The Rest Of Exoprimal Be? - A Open Beta Test Review

Exoprimal's beta was damn fun but VERY limited. Here's some early thoughts.

By Michael Byrne - 1 week ago
Celebrate Silliness With The Return Of Elder Scrolls Online’s Jester’s Festival

Celebrate Silliness With The Return Of Elder Scrolls Online’s Jester’s Festival

Things are about to get ridiculous… In a good way?

By QuintLyn Bowers - 2 days ago
Why Activision Blizzard And NetEase Partnership Really Ended: "Threats" And More

Why Activision Blizzard And NetEase Partnership Really Ended: "Threats" And More

Others say it was a misunderstanding revolving around Chinese regulations.

By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 day ago
Go Hands On With Free-To-Play Digital Card Game Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge During The Steam Digital Tabletop Event

Go Hands On With Free-To-Play Digital Card Game Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge During The Steam Digital Tabletop Event

40K fan rejoice, you have a new free-to-play CCG to try this weekend.

By Troy Blackburn - 1 week ago
Guild Wars 2’s Super Funky Super Adventure Festival Is Back

Guild Wars 2’s Super Funky Super Adventure Festival Is Back

The yearly festival is now live.

By QuintLyn Bowers - 3 days ago
Descend Into The Deepest Depths Of The Sea In Tower Of Fantasy’s March 30th Update

Descend Into The Deepest Depths Of The Sea In Tower Of Fantasy’s March 30th Update

The game’s next major expansion arrives later this month.

By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 week ago