Tensions Rise as Playdead Co-Founder Dino Patti Alleges Ongoing Legal Threats from Business Partner
By Playdead Studios co-founder Dino Patti claimed he faced threats of an IP lawsuit from fellow co-founder Arnt Jensen after their relationship “deteriorated.”
In a “legal love letter” sent on March 3, Jensen asserted that Patti infringed copyright by sharing a “detailed description” of Limbo’s style in a leisurely 2024 LinkedIn post. This now-deleted post includes an “unauthorized” image owned by Jensen, who demanded 500,000 DKK ($72,630) in “appropriate compensation and reimbursement.”
“We want to reiterate and warn that your ongoing usage of Playdead’s assets and any revelation and exploitation of internal knowledge regarding Playdead for commercial intent is infringing and constitutes a violation of confidentiality agreements,” the statement declares. “By providing recipients with key insights into the process of developing Limbo, you are misleadingly implying that you played a crucial role, including a creative contribution, within the development of the game.”
The ongoing, internal Playdead dispute
Playdead released Limbo in 2010, followed by Inside in 2016. Patti left to establish then-quiet indie Jumpship the next year, and indicated at that time there was “some kind of fallout” between him and Jensen.
According to Patti, Jensen has “repeatedly” threatened him with legal action over the past nine years. He decided to take this public because “the last time [Arnt] tried to intimidate me, I informed [him] I would make it public.” Patti also contended that he was a “significant part of building Playdead from the ground up. […] Without me, Playdead wouldn’t have existed. That’s not ego. That’s a fact.”
“Arnt, please stop the intimidation. I will not change who I am,” he continued. “I will never erase my own history. You can’t rewrite the past just because of a bad separation.” In a recent response to his bear post, he told Jensen he would “love to find a solution where your lawyers don’t contact me every six months, with some nonsense! My lines are open.”
Patti currently remains at Jumpship, which was acquired by Thunderful in 2022 on the same day it released its inaugural title, Somerville. He reacquired the studio from Thunderful this past February.
Game Developer has reached out to Playdead for comments and will update when a response is received.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to various websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can also be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he’s had, as the answer will likely be more than he’s willing to admit.