Crytek sues Cloud Imperium Games over a breach of contract

Crytek has filed a lawsuit against Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), the developers of Star Citizen, over its use of CryEngine when developing both Star Citizen and Squadron 42, the game’s single-player mode.  

When the game started development, Crytek licensed their game engine to CIG at a “below-market” rate in exchange for certain concessions, like displaying CryEngine trademarks on their marketing materials and a pledge to use CryEngine exclusively when developing the game. 

Over time Crytek alleges that CIG distanced itself from Crytek over time, first by removing Crytek’s trademarks from marketing materials without permission.  Later, Chris Robers, CIG’s CEO, started calling their modified version of CryEngine “Star Engine”, lessening the perceived impact that CryEngine had on the game’s development. Eventually, CIG then moved the game from CryEngine to Amazon’s Lumberyard Engine, which is itself is based on Crytek-licensed technology.  

The suit also alleges that CIG broke their contract with Crytek by creating a second game using their engine without a license, stating that Squadron 42, is a separate game from Star Citizen. Both Star Citizen and Squadron 42 can be purchased separately, though initially Squadron 42 was intended to be Star Citizen’s single-player campaign.  

As part of their original deal, CIG also agreed to collaborate on CryEngine’s development, sharing bug fixes and optimisations to CryEngine’s source code on a yearly basis and after the final game is released. Crytek has stated in this suit that CIG has not complied with their agreement, effectively slowing down the development of CryEngine. 

Crytek has filed a lawsuit against Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), the developers of Star Citizen, over its use of CryEngine when developing both Star Citizen and Squadron 42, the game’s single-player mode.  

When the game started development, Crytek licensed their game engine to CIG at a “below-market” rate in exchange for certain concessions, like displaying CryEngine trademarks on their marketing materials and a pledge to use CryEngine exclusively when developing the game. 

Over time Crytek alleges that CIG distanced itself from Crytek over time, first by removing Crytek’s trademarks from marketing materials without permission.  Later, Chris Robers, CIG’s CEO, started calling their modified version of CryEngine “Star Engine”, lessening the perceived impact that CryEngine had on the game’s development. Eventually, CIG then moved the game from CryEngine to Amazon’s Lumberyard Engine, which is itself is based on Crytek-licensed technology.  

The suit also alleges that CIG broke their contract with Crytek by creating a second game using their engine without a license, stating that Squadron 42, is a separate game from Star Citizen. Both Star Citizen and Squadron 42 can be purchased separately, though initially Squadron 42 was intended to be Star Citizen’s single-player campaign.  

As part of their original deal, CIG also agreed to collaborate on CryEngine’s development, sharing bug fixes and optimisations to CryEngine’s source code on a yearly basis and after the final game is released. Crytek has stated in this suit that CIG has not complied with their agreement, effectively slowing down the development of CryEngine.