Inside Team17, following the Worms NFT firestorm

Last week, Worms developer and indie game publisher Team17 brought the ire of the internet upon itself as bosses attempted to launch a range of collectible Worms NFTs. But while the reveal, swift condemnation and embarrassing backtrack have all now passed, employees at the developer’s main Wakefield and Nottingham sites remain stunned. They say the incident reflects a company out of touch with its staff – and which is yet to say sorry to team members left in the internet’s firing line.

Speaking to Eurogamer under condition of anonymity to protect their careers, more than a dozen employees have said they felt let down by how Team17 handled the announcement, and that the company’s refusal to listen to staff concerns has added additional pressure to a workforce already worn thin. Team members I spoke to – fiercely loyal to their colleagues and proud of the work they do – were aghast at the public drubbing the company’s name got last week, and say they have become increasingly upset by the decisions of management over the past few years, as workloads have risen while pay has remained poor.

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