Update (3/10/25): In an email to Game Developer, Playdead confirmed it “submitted demands” Patti about his alleged ” infringement and unauthorized use of Playdead’s trademarks and copyrighted works in a commercial and marketing context.”
“We have found it necessary to take this action to protect our trademarks and copyrights, which are essential to Playdead’s business and reputation,” it concluded.”
Original story: Playdead Studios co-founder Dino Patti alleged he was threatened with an IP suit from fellow co-founder Arnt Jensen after things “went downhill” between them.
In a “legal love letter” sent on March 3, Jensen claimed Patti broke copyright by posting a “lengthy description” of Limbo’s development in a late 2024 LinkedIn post. That now-deleted post features an “unauthorized” photo owned by Jensen, who demanded 500,000 DKK ($72,630) in “suitable compensation and reimbursement.”
“We want to repeat and caution that your continued use of Playdead’s assets and any disclosure and exploitation of inside knowledge about Playdead for commercial purposes is infringing and constitutes breach of confidentiality clauses,” the statement reads. “By providing recipients with core insights to the process of developing Limbo, you are falsely giving the impression that you played a significant role, including a creative role, in the development of the game.”
The ongoing, internal Playdead beef
Playdead released Limbo in 2010, then Inside in 2016. Patti departed to launch then-new indie Jumpship the following year, and indicated at the 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 chose to make this public because “the last time [Arnt] tried to bully me, I told [him] I’d make it public.” Patti also argued 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 bullying. I will not stop being who I am,” he continued. “I will never erase my own history. You can’t rewrite the past just because of a bad breakup.” In a recent reply to his own post, he told Jensen he would “love to come to a solution where your lawyers don’t write me every 6 months, with some bullshit! My lines are open.”
Patti currently remains at Jumpship, which was acquired by Thunderful in 2022 the same day it released its debut title, Somerville. He reacquired the studio from Thunderful this past February.
Game Developer has reached out to Playdead for comment, and will update when a response is given.