Statement about Writhing Dark Kickstarters

Chaosium has been in touch with Shane Tyree, who has two as-yet unfulfilled licensed Kickstarters. These are Call of Cthulhu: The Writhing Dark - Playing Cards and Tarot and Call of Cthulhu: The Writhing Dark - Extended Edition. 1,626 backers pledged $116,213 to Writhing Dark, which launched in November 2013 with an estimated delivery date of April 2014. In May 2014 a further 401 backers pledged $15,091 to the Extended Edition, which was due to deliver in August 2014.

Because Chaosium's name and IP is connected to these campaigns, we've had backers complaining to us about Shane's lack of communication—the last updates on Kickstarter were over a year ago (here and here). These updates offered an apology to backers, outlining how various personal and business problems have beset the two projects, along with a commitment to nevertheless complete the Kickstarters. 

But the silence for a year was troubling, and so prior to Gen Con we contacted Shane. He explained that he has taken delivery of the core rewards (the card sets) and is actually in the process of fulfilling, albeit very slowly as his constrained finances permit. 

We are well within our rights to terminate Shane's agreement. But we don't want backers to be prevented by Chaosium from getting what they paid Shane to produce. Because he has the actual product in hand and sincerely states that he still wishes to deliver, we have instead issued Shane a special license extension. This is strictly limited to fulfilling the original Writhing Dark and Extended Edition Kickstarter rewards and expires on completion. No additional or new material of any kind is permitted under this license. 

We have also encouraged Shane to reopen channels of communication with Kickstarter backers who have yet to receive their rewards.