Did Bethesda kill Rune 2?

Objection! 

Do you remember the Rune 2 story from a while back? Clearly I don't because I was certain that the game was Rune 3 and even now feel like I've been gaslighted big time, but I wrote a blog on it so I should supposedly know what I'm talking about... Apparently it was a story that followed a game Studio who were all raptured up in the middle of game development. Or at least that's what it must have felt like, because in the months before they officially announced they were being bought up by Bethesda, Human Head Studios apparently cut off all contact with the Game's publisher, Ragnarok LTD, and refused to hand over any of the data that would be needed to smoothly transition that work to a new developer. It was a befuddling tale full to the brim of 'he said' and- well Human Head haven't really responded to any accusations so it's really just 'he said' for now, but it still feels like we're only getting half the story and that's frustrating for everybody.

As it stands Rune 2 was struck with a major overhaul process that I believe is still in the works as they try to reshape the game into something that better resembles their lofty hopes for it. New developers have stepped into the void left by Human Head and things appear to be going well for the team, and good for them I say. It's never good when fellow members of the same industry work each other over like this, it erodes trust in a damnable way, but it also creates opportunity for others to come and step in where they're needed. Ultimately I'd say this was the sort of story that the industry really didn't need, capped off with a hearty resolution that the industry doesn't deserve. That being said, I'm not really the sort of person who finds Rune or it's sequel even passingly interesting so I have no personal stake in the success of this game whatsoever.

Ragnarok Games, on the otherhand, very much are and that's what spurred them into launching a lawsuit against Human Head Studios for egregious breech of contract (I'd imagine) and probably direct harm to potential profits through everything that went on. And taking everything at complete face value, whilst begrudgingly acknowledging that we still haven't heard from Human Head on this matter, it's hard to disagree with their actions here. The game's executive producer himself laid out how this could have been an amiable transition and how things could have ended peacefully between all parties, but until we hear otherwise we can only conclude it was Human Head's negligence that has led to this. So with all that accepted and readily to mind, why is it that Bethesda and Zenimax have been pulled into this debate?

That's right, the latest development out of this saga is that Ragnarok have amended their lawsuit to include Bethesda and Zenimax for being complicate in this scheme to smuggle the Human Head staff and turn them into Roundhouse Studios. Quite the lofty accusation, if you ask me. In a breakheel turn that's sure to make one question exactly where it is that Ragnorok is receiving their information from, they have pivoted completely from their initial assertion that Human Head reached out to Bethesda and now claim that Bethesda were an active conspirator in these events. Their assertions are that Bethesda head hunted Human Head (if you'll forgive the pun) in order to effectively assassinate Rune 2 and another game called 'Oblivion Song'. (Although with a name like that and knowledge of how zealous Zenimax are, I doubt that game would have made it to launch without a lawsuit anyway.)

It's the narrative that has been asserted along with this amendment that has captured the mind of the Internet however, because not only have Ragnarok deduced that Bethesda must be the masterminds behind this, but they've revealed the reason behind it too; because Bethesda would have seen Rune 2 as a threat to Skyrim/The Elder Scrolls. (Stop laughing, this is serious!) Okay, so if this is to be taken at face value, than it's a pretty damning accusation to throw Bethesda's way and textbook anti-competitive moves. This is the sort of thing that can really cause a stink in court and I wouldn't be surprised if Bethesda were hit with more than just a slap on the wrist if they're found guilty. I mean this is serious business right here! But then must find a way to prove Rune 2 could be reasonably seen as a threat to Elder Scrolls and that's... well Ragnarok have carved out an uphill battle for themselves here.

The important thing to remember here, provided that you're willing to see things from Ragnarok's view, is to not look at Rune 2 as it currently is but what it could have been. (Which is already hard to do given how that's a vision held only by the studios involved.) Now you have to imagine whether or not a sequel to a game with history all the way back to the year 2000 (Not as long as The Elder Scrolls) and which plants itself in Viking mythology (Which is technically the basis for Skyrim's Mythology) and just happens to be an open world RPG (a genre that Bethesda have defined) would be a threat to Bethesda's work. I'm not gonna lie, I find this incredibly dubious. By the simple merit of sharing a genre it seems as if Ragnarok have positioned themselves as rivals to Bethesda, one of the biggest companies in the industry, and I can't be the only seeing a little false equivalence here. Or are Ragnarok suggesting that Bethesda are willing to attack any game similar to the one they already released 9 years ago, if so; why didn't they try to scoop up Santa Monica Studio before God of War came out? Why do they let any RPG enter the market without first interfering? It's a narrative that doesn't exactly make the most amount of sense and I have a theory as to why.

Although the 'bad-faith' argument in itself is pretty serious to lay at Bethesda's door, without any proof it's just an accusation with no traction in the court room, and to a layman this story paints a logical incentive for Bethesda's alleged actions. Now perhaps there are some secret correspondence hiding in Rune 2's defence which proves all of this beyond a single doubt, but right now it does sort of feel like straws are being grasped at. I'm no legal eagle with years of court experience mind you, so perhaps all of this is perfectly fine within the courtroom, but outside I think it's not hard for eyebrows to be raised as people wonder exactly what it is Ragnarok are seeking out of this. What started at perhaps on of the most empathetic plights in gaming has become just that little suspect and I'm unsure what exactly to make of things right now.

I've seen the proposition raised, although I hesitate to stand behind it myself, that given the timing of all of this, (essentially with the amendment coming just after Bethesda was bought by Microsoft for a record amount of money) Ragnarok might be making their attempt to secure some of Bethesda's recent windful. Now I find it a little distasteful to consider, Ragnarok were horribly fouled by this whole affair and turning suspicion back around on them hardly seem helpful, but when the timing, accusation and validity coincides this well even I have to wonder. (This is a blog afterall, I hold no journalist responsibilities) To their credit, Ragnarok are underdogs in all this and that instantly makes them more relatable, but whenever large amounts of money enter the conversation I personally find my sympathy drain. But who knows, maybe us newborn doubters will all found ourselves made fools of in the court trails to come, I suppose we all shall see.