Summary
Hidden Variable Studios, the developer of theSkullgirlsmobile spinoff, has ceased development on the game due to a dispute with publisher Autumn Games. The originalSkullgirlswas released in 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360 and was an instant hit. The 2D tag-team-based fighting game was inspired byMarvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, meaning players can choose to control a single character or a team of two to three. This makes for great variety in playstyles and team customization, allowing combatants to pull off a variety of combos.
An updated version of the game, calledSkullgirls 2nd Encore,was released for PS4 and Japanese arcades in 2015, and in 2020, Hidden Variable Studios (HVS) launched the mobile spinoff,Skullgirls Mobile.In addition to providing continuing support for the Android/iOS game over the past five years, HVS has contributed toSkullgirls 2nd Encoreby helping with ports to other platformsand ongoing content releases.The company has assisted with development of the IP’s webtoon as well.
On March 5, Hidden Variable released a statement revealing that it had ceased work on allSkullgirlsprojects and had filed a lawsuit against publisher Autumn Games with the Los Angeles Superior Court.According to Games Industry.bizand the court documents it uncovered, the developer is suing the publisher for breach of contract, goods and services rendered, and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In other words, HSV alleges that Autumn Games owes $1,227,308.98 after withholding payments due between Jun 24, 2025, and July 29, 2025, as well as anticipated unpaid payments through March 15. The developer had given the defendant until January 21 to settle the debt.
Publisher Autumn Games Owes $1.25 Million, Says Skullgirls Dev Hidden Variable
Upon Autumn Games' failure to make the requested payments, Hidden Variable handed over theSkullgirls Mobilelogin information required to continue providing community support. In the announcement, the developer thanked said community and expressed pride in the work it had done onSkullgirls Mobileand2nd Encoreover the past 10 years.
Jason Donnell, CEO and co-founder of Autumn Games, released a statement on Twitter to reassure fans thatsupport forSkullgirlswill continue. The company, which is also a game developer, will be stepping in to continue work on the project and expand the universe’s stories and gameplay. In fact, the announcement revealed, Autumn Games took over development a few months ago and has actively been working on guilds forSkullgirls, which will launch this year.
For its part, some members of theSkullgirlscommunity seem pleased with the departure of Hidden Variable, if comments on both Twitter posts and Reddit are any indication. Others have only expressed hope that content releases and updates for the games continue without interruption. As forSkullgirls’ original developer, Reverge Labs, severalmembers of that team eventually left to form Future Club. The new indie company provides support to other development studios, including Hidden Variable and Autumn Games onSkullgirls 2nd Encore, but has not yet made a comment on the HSV vs AG lawsuit.
