MIDNIGHT SOCIETY STUDIO, CO-FOUNDED BY DR DISRESPECT, ANNOUNCES CLOSURE
Midnight Society, the game development studio co-founded by the controversial Twitch streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm, is closing its doors after facing challenges and significant layoffs. This news comes shortly after Google lifted the monetization ban on Beahm’s YouTube channel, which was imposed following his admission of inappropriate behavior with a minor last year.
Established in 2021 by Beahm and former Call of Duty community manager Robert Bowling, Midnight Society introduced its first title, the free-to-play vertical extraction shooter Deadrop, in the following year. Despite ongoing development, the studio encountered difficulties in 2024 when Beahm admitted to engaging in inappropriate messages with a minor in 2017. This revelation led to a series of events that the studio struggled to overcome.
Midnight Society attempted to distance itself from Beahm when allegations surfaced about his behavior but ultimately had to cope with unexpected challenges by initiating significant layoffs in September. Unfortunately, the studio has now decided to shut down operations.
In a statement shared on social media, Midnight Society expressed gratitude to its dedicated team of 55 developers who contributed to Deadrop and mentioned actively seeking opportunities with other game studios for their talented members. The studio also apologized for not achieving its ultimate goal.
The closure of Midnight Society coincides with Google’s decision to lift the suspension that prevented Beahm from monetizing his YouTube channel. Originally demonetized last year, Beahm’s channel faced prolonged restrictions even after an appeal. However, Google recently announced the reinstatement of monetization privileges.
In response to the reversal, Beahm shared his thoughts during a stream, reflecting on the irony of gaining monetization on the same day as the studio’s closure. The situation highlights the unpredictable nature of the industry and the challenges faced by content creators and developers alike.