Primordia Creator Claims Unfair Royalties in Dispute With Wadjet Eye Games

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Victor Wooten, known online as Yorhel, has publicly raised concerns about royalty payments tied to Primordia, the acclaimed indie point-and-click adventure released in 2012. In a post shared on X, the founder of Wormwood Studios and original creator of the game, revealed a payment of just $194.84 for the month, questioning both the amount and the percentage breakdown attached to it. He claims the figures do not align with the publishing agreement he originally signed with Wadjet Eye Games, led by Dave Gilbert.

Wooten alleges that payments have been consistently low and often delayed over the years, frequently accompanied by explanations of “major problems.” He suggests that the discrepancies may indicate that the terms of the original contract have effectively been altered or disregarded without his consent, potentially resulting in a larger share of revenue being retained by the publisher. In follow-up comments, he speculated that alternative arrangements may have been introduced for certain sales channels, raising further questions about transparency and why his share appears significantly reduced over time.

Primordia remains a well-regarded title within the indie scene, praised for its writing, atmosphere, and cyberpunk setting. The game has maintained a strong reputation with an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since release. By 2018, it had generated over $600,000 in total revenue across platforms, with Wooten reportedly receiving around $110,000, roughly 18 percent of gross earnings, after platform fees and publisher cuts were applied.

As of now, Wadjet Eye Games has not publicly responded to the allegations. Wooten has stated that he previously attempted to initiate an audit but encountered resistance, and his recent posts suggest a growing frustration with the lack of accountability. The situation highlights a broader issue within the indie games industry, where long-term revenue sharing agreements can become points of contention, particularly for older titles that continue to generate income.