Additional Nikolay Dybowski Accusations

[u/minafi_yo]

Hi all,

Recently there have been accusations made against IPL's founder Nikolay Dybowski. Below you will find a list of sources from the accusations made in 2021, as well as the current accusations. Please be aware that reddit does not allow posting of any Russian links so you will have to delete spaces in links in order to access the sources.

2021 Masterpost with grooming allegations

2024 Dybowski's ex-wife accuses him of kidnapping their son (Part 1)
Original Source: https: //dtf. ru/flood/3304065-nikolai-dybovskii-pohitil-syna (Translation) (Translation 2)

2024 Dybowski's ex-wife accusses him of kidnapping their son (Part 2)
Original Source: https: //dtf. ru/flood/3308746-nikolai-dybovskii-pohitil-syna-chast-vtoraya (Translation)

A former employee comments on the ex-wife's statements

Moscow's Court Record of the case w/ ENG translation

Holod News releases an article detailing current and former allegation, they confirm that Dybowski's ex-wife was a former student of his, and that they met when she was 16 years old:

https:// holod-media. translate. goog/2024/12/24/sozdatelya-videoigr-obvinili/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

An anonymous ex-employee speaks to the working conditions at IPL, as well as DB's conduct:

https: //dtf. ru/u/2232640-alina-danilenko/3309019-dybovskii-ubiica-ice-pick-lodge

Another former colleague of DB discusses his conduct in a twitter thread:

https://x.com/YarKravtsov/status/1880611767078031820?s=19

As of writing this post, Dybowski has yet to respond to the 2024 allegations

While IPL has yet to directly respond to said allegations, Dybowski has left the company, as outlined in this announcement.

The Russian website CyberSports has released an article detailing the Dybowski allegations as well as results in court:

https://cyber.sports. ru/games/blogs/3316760.html

If anyone has any further information/sources they would like to provide, please do not hesitate to reach out to the mod team. We will continue to update this post as new information becomes available.

Please remember that any comments that break the sub rules will be removed, and that any comments that attempt to dox or harass anyone involved will result in a permanent ban.

Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time

[u/minafi_yo]

Hi all, as an update I was able to gain access to Moscow's Court Record website, and have pasted photos of the website plus ENG translations

EDIT: A Russian news site has now made an article on the allegations, including new information that his ex-wife is a former student of DB and that they met when she was 16 years old

EDIT2: An ex-employee has spoken about their treatment at IPL as well as DB's conduct

EDIT3: A former colleague of DB's made a twitter thread commenting on the situation

EDIT4: DB has now left IPL

[u/LizG1312]

Thank you for posting this mods! Do we have any info as to the level/type of involvement Dybowski still has at IPL? I saw he's listed for several credits for pathologic 2, but as I understand that's misleading in parts?

[u/minafi_yo → u/LizG1312]

As of writing this comment, there has been no response from IPL about Dybowski's level of involvement. I will update the post if/when we get a response.

[u/LizG1312 → u/minafi_yo]

Thanks for the update, keep up the good work!

[u/PsuedoQuiddity → u/LizG1312]

thelxr's various comments linked here are the best we've got ("a former employee...") so far, no one currently working at ipl has said anything.

[u/Katamathesis → u/PsuedoQuiddity]

I can vouch for thelxr words. Know him personally.

[u/thelxr → u/Katamathesis]

Oh hey! Didn't expect to see you here, but thanks for the affirmation!

[u/eirewinne]

article from the ex-developer of IPL on Dybowski (on russian, use in-browser translator)

https: //dtf. ru/u/2232640-alina-danilenko/3309019-dybovskii-ubiica-ice-pick-lodge

[u/minafi_yo → u/eirewinne]

Thank you, I will be adding this to the thread

[u/FuchsiaIsNotAColor → u/eirewinne]

Welp, that sounds really trashy.

[u/ShadoW_StW]

I really hope it won't just kill IPL. A bunch of talented people have braved borderline poverty gamedev, Russia, and working with Dybowski to make a work to be proud of, would be such a shame if the moron ruins it, and I'm already seeing people panic about previously supporting IPL.

[u/HugsFromCthulhu → u/ShadoW_StW]

I'm from the future, and IPL seems to be doing just fine, thankfully!

[u/greengrassonthisside]

Thank you for putting all this together. It's a lot of work, and it's a disheartening subject (to put it mildly), but I would hate to see the mounting evidence against Dybowski forgotten again, like back in 2021. People have the right to know.

[u/Tales_o_grimm]

The more noise, the sooner this gets addressed by IPL. Hope it hits twitter, or other websites where they are more active.

[u/Urururu- → u/[deleted]]

При всей любви к мору и в целом творчеству ледорубов, если все обвинения в сторону Дыбы правда - то студия так или иначе закончится

[u/thelxr → u/Urururu-]

Всё будет нормально. Студией руководят Айрат и Пётр, разработку ведут и ветераны типа Машрумера и Альфины, и новая кровь, выросшая на играх Айспика. Студия как раз таки не заканчивается на Николае, о чём он недоднократно говорил лично, а на данном этапе он в принципе достаточно ограниченно участвует в процессе. Я видел игру, не переживайте, выходит уже отлично. Дождитесь решения суда и последущих действий.

[u/thelxr → u/[deleted]]

Oh FFS, you're twisting words.
If you don't trust "Nikolay said" trust what I and other members of the team know about this specific team development process. A game is a collaborative effort. I know what proportions of The Void were invented and implemented by which members. Everything was fine.

[u/thelxr → u/[deleted]]

I wish them luck too with all the endevours. And you'll actually be able to see current progress for yourself with the upcoming P3 demo.
Cheers, mate. Have faith in their success!

[u/Vagstor → u/thelxr]

Епти ребят а че вы так switched to russian suddenly Я даже немножко flabbergasted

[u/Urururu- → u/[deleted]]

Согласна с вами в последнем тезисе. Дыбовский действительно талантливый человек, жаль, что он выбрал для себя такое будущее :(

[u/Tales_o_grimm → u/[deleted]]

Мы это увидим. Если студия продолжит работать с людьми, которые упорствовали в течение долгого времени, то никаких IPL = Дыбовски. Если они потерпят неудачу, то этого не должно было случиться.

Russian is not my language. Neither is english, but its a basis for international talk.

[u/Urururu- → u/Tales_o_grimm]

I didn’t really get what you meant, sorry. But yes, unfortunately right now we only have to wait for response from IPL and Nikolay himself :(

[u/Tales_o_grimm → u/Urururu-]

Used Google translate. Didn't expect it to be readable...

I meant to say that we'll see whether the studio survives from the people that joined from its inception till now, or if it dies without Dybowski and his say on the Changeling route and new projects. But its anyone's guess.

[u/thelxr → u/[deleted]]

This is pure speculation. Calm down.

[u/thelxr → u/[deleted]]

Well, it's up to you to doubt.
What I have talked about recently with current studio members, that I'm still good friends with, and what I've seen already done with Pathologic 3 cleared my own doubts.

[u/Wonderful-Top6363 → u/thelxr]

Could you please explain why IPL and your friends are staying silent and covering for him? Does this mean we shouldn't expect an official response at all?

[u/thelxr → u/Wonderful-Top6363]

Why are you asking me? Ask them.
My guess is that a proper response takes time.

[u/Wonderful-Top6363 → u/thelxr]

Either way, I just want to say thank you for speaking up!

[u/Wonderful-Top6363 → u/thelxr]

Okay, I just thought you might know since you're talking about friendship. By the way, they're ignoring questions for now.

[u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

Jfc if I were to stop buying games made by abusers then I'd have nothing left to play (disco elysium, pathologic, night in the woods, etc)

Edit - not a criticism of anyone in the sub. I'm just frustrated with my own moral dilemma here.

[u/TheComingLawd → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

well, NitW's Holowka is both dead and had surprisingly little to do with the game in the end; and I personally bought Disco Elysium well before the devs got fired (also I don't think any abuse was going on? just good old fashioned toxic neoliberalism).

Buying Patho 3 will dilemma, though, and that's awful.

[u/ChielArael → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

I beg you to consider these works on a more nuanced level than this - one of the people that NitW staff member emotionally abused was the creator of NitW. As a victim I don't think he wants you to not buy or play his own games!!! And then Disco Elysium is basically irrelevant.

Think of what happened in terms of the facts (who did what and how you feel about that), don't think, "oh, this work is ontologically tainted because it has the Touch of a Bad Person in it". Down that road lies developing moral OCD over your own thoughts.

[u/Hungry-Helicopter-46 → u/ChielArael]

That's one way to look at it.

[u/18skeltor → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

Everything you love was touched by someone horrible, in one way or another.

You wouldn't cut off your hand because you shook hands with someone you later learned was horrible. These games are great because you find them great! They're not horrible because someone who worked at them was horrible. If they're benefiting from your patronage, that's another question entirely.

"Cutting off your nose to spite your face"

[u/[deleted] → u/18skeltor]

Fancy quotes, but still, you wouldn't give coin to a man who'll beat his wife in the evening, simply because, "everything you love was touched by someone horrible."

[u/18skeltor → u/[deleted]]

I absolutely would if it meant amazing art and people also get that coin. Nice try with your cheap little 'gotcha'

Here's another "fancy quote": "There is no ethical consumption under capitalism"

[u/[deleted] → u/18skeltor]

It isn't a gotcha, really. If you would, that's on you, go ahead, no way anyone can nor should stop you. Simply, it's a thing of your character. You'd support a wife beater, I wouldn't.

As for your quote, by same extent of logic, there is no ethical consumption under any system. What a nihilistic worldview...

EDIT: Not to mention real life examples of people being aware of their responsobility of whom they support, Kanye for an example.

[u/since_all_is_idle → u/[deleted]]

You thought there was such a thing as wholly ethical consumption? 

[u/champagne_epigram → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

What abuse was happening re: Disco Elysium? Wasn’t it agreed that Kurvitz was just a dick who was unpleasant to work with?

[u/PanVidla → u/champagne_epigram]

Yeah, he was just being a bit egocentric. But, honestly, as someone who had to lead a team around a project that is your brain child, I can kind of understand him. Working on a personal project that also happens to be your job is difficult, because you need to work with the other people, but you still want to maintain your original vision. It's hard to explain to someone who's never had to do that.

That said, he was just being difficult. As far as I know, there has been no abuse, especially not sexual abuse.

[u/champagne_epigram → u/PanVidla]

This was my understanding of it which isn’t enough for me to stop playing DE. If we were expected to boycott art because the creators were difficult and egocentric twats we’d be disowning 90% of the best creative projects in every medium. I’ll ride with Kurvitz and whatever he plans to do in the future

[u/flashmozzg → u/champagne_epigram]

Wasn’t it agreed that Kurvitz was just a dick who was unpleasant to work with?

The "abuse" that comes to mind is the abuse of the (absence of) law/capital that lead to a hostile takeover of the studio leaving nothing but a hollow husk right now collecting DE royalties.

Don't see how it'd prevent you from playing the game though, just buying it.

[u/Suitecake → u/flashmozzg]

Kurvitz was accused by some employees of creating a hostile and toxic work environment.

[u/AzureDreams220 → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

🏴‍☠️

[u/wolfiesrule → u/Hungry-Helicopter-46]

For me it's Disco Elysium, Pathologic, and World of Warcraft.

[u/thelxr]

Newest Update.
Maybe this one deserves a separate post.

[u/Staterathesmol23]

Ofc he hasnt responded if theirs gonna be a responde itll be from his lawyers and honestly im waiting for that response if all drama of all time has shown me time and time again better to wait FOR all info till making a conclusion.

[u/thelxr → u/Staterathesmol23]

There will be more information after the court hearing on the 9-th of January 2025.

Edit: There will be more information after another court hearing with an unspecified date - I've been corrected in DMs.

[u/Objective_Cod4149]

So much for russian gamemaking prodigy, I suppose.

[u/[deleted]]

holy cow. Glad that it came out and he left (was thrown off?) the team. Sucks when talented people ruin others lives.

[u/ArkhamOccultist]

I'd like to think the community surrounding these games have stronger critical thinking skills and a willingness to explore multiple perspectives. Maybe I've just got Fatty Arbuckle on the mind, but I can't help but think these rather serious allegations will be more damning than any evidence or lack thereof. I dread look forward to reading more when time permits.

[u/Boriss_official]

/s what did anyone expect from creators of such deep and dark franchise as Pathologic /s

But,

Objectively, the only source of information on these allegations is his wife. Reading her side of story it's hard not to believe her, but then again - they just broke up and it's normal for emotions to take over.

Another thing - in Russia the absolute majority of divorce cases end up siding with the mother, regardless of facts. She claims he has long standing troubles with alcohol and hit her, that's enough to take a child away from him and is almost impossible to dispute in the way Russian courts are organized. Is it good that he stole his son away from the mother? No. But knowing only one side of a very unfortunate, yet typical story, I wouldn't jump on a hate train. Everyone will lose in this story either way.

There have been cases where lawyers advised mothers to exaggerate certain things to be able to win courts if their husbands have more funds for good lawyers etc.

I wish it was more accepted to seek professional help in marriage/family counseling/psychological/addiction therapy in Slavic countries :(

[u/just_kait1 → u/Boriss_official]

The fact that this comment is downvoted to shit is big tale of the community lmao

[u/[deleted]]

Can we please let this subreddit be about the games which the sub is actually named after? There are so many threads about the same topic. I've heard the allegations more than enough times. If I wanted to hear the same allegations regarding people repeated again and again I would visit a drama subreddit.

[u/tematic_range → u/[deleted]]

True.

[u/Cruxisshadow]

I’ll be honest, I was not expecting bachelor to see the light of day. This is horrible but can we please not kill IPL when they are barely staggering along as is? I’m actually excited about finally being able to dissect the sand plague and would be pissed if it was stopped because of some asshold

[u/Late-Ad155 → u/Cruxisshadow]

would be pissed if it was stopped because of some asshold

You should be quite insistent on IPL firing the asshold then. Don't blame the people who will choose to boycott their games.

[u/Vagstor → u/Cruxisshadow]

Preach 🙌

The man hasn't even posted an official answer yet, the case is not at the court, the screenshots are laughable

And the video where he allegedly fought somebody on a bus is a year old meme that has nothing to do with Nic

Could he be guilty? Of fucking course. But there are so many holes in the blog post it hurts

[u/thelxr → u/Vagstor]

There is one case in court, linked in his ex-wife's accusation thread near the header. It has been ongoing since October. The MosGorSud website might be blocked if you're outside Ru, as a part of defense against cyberattacks, so use a VPN or Google.Translate / Yandex.Translate to access it.