Chained Echoes Dev is Filing a Lawsuit Against First Press Games

The creator behind the hit indie RPG Chained Echoes, Matthias Linda, has officially decided to take legal action against his physical distribution partner. While the project has been in the spotlight for its critical success, several unexpected developments regarding its business partnerships have recently come to light. The developer of Chained Echoes is now moving in a new direction to address long-standing issues that have affected the game’s fans.

Developed over a grueling seven-year period by Linda, the game was designed as a tribute to the 16-bit era of the Super Nintendo. It features a sprawling 30- to 40-hour story set on the war-torn continent of Valandis, where a group of heroes attempts to bring peace to three feuding kingdoms. Since its release in 2022, Chained Echoes has been hailed as one of the best modern examples of the RPG genre, earning a spot on many Top 10 lists for its innovative combat and deep character progression.

Chained Echoes Review

Indie JRPG Chained Echoes brings together classic touchstone inspirations of the genre while creating an incredible, well-crafted original experience.

A Two-Year Delay and Broken Promises

The dispute centers on the long-delayed physical release that was part of the original crowdfunding campaign. In a direct update posted to Kickstarter on March 11, Linda revealed that it has been more than two years since the boxed copies of Chained Echoes were originally scheduled to ship. The developer is now ending his contract with First Press Games (FPG) after the company failed to deliver the promised physical editions to thousands of supporters. Despite the long wait, the only version that has actually made it into the hands of players is the standard PlayStation 4 edition. For those expecting Nintendo Switch or special collector’s editions, the silence from the distributor has been firm.

“I am terminating my business relationship with FPG and I am preparing a lawsuit,” Linda stated in his announcement. He explained that the choice to pursue litigation was not made lightly and came only after “careful consideration” of the situation. While he cannot share specific legal details at this stage, the developer made it clear that the lack of progress in 2026 was the final straw. First Press Games’ reputation has been under scrutiny for some time, with many customers online questioning whether the company was even capable of fulfilling its backlog of orders.

With the business relationship now severed, Linda’s primary focus has shifted to making things right for his supporters. He is currently offering two main paths for those who backed the physical versions during the Kickstarter campaign. The first option is for players to wait for a brand-new physical edition to be produced by a different publisher. However, Linda warned that this could result in another significant delay, as it is possible that new copies may not be manufactured until the legal battle with FPG has concluded.

image showing how to beat tak the yak in chained echoes.

For those who have run out of patience, the second option is a full refund. Linda has set up a dedicated email address—refund@chainedechoes.com—to process these claims. To receive a refund, backers need to provide their name, ID number, and proof of their order confirmation. The developer even noted that he would compensate people who used vouchers to upgrade their orders through the FPG store, provided the original order was tied to the Kickstarter campaign.

While the legal battle looms, the game itself continues to grow. Just last summer, a major expansion for Chained Echoes titled Ashes of Elrant was released, adding new areas and characters to the already massive world. The game remains available digitally across almost every major platform, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Despite the drama surrounding the physical boxes, the enthusiasm for the title remains steady.

Linda expressed regret for the frustration the situation had caused, apologizing for the “vague information” and the long wait. As the lawsuit progresses, the community will be watching closely to see if a new partner can finally bring this acclaimed RPG to their shelves. For now, it is advised that anyone looking to own the game should stick to digital storefronts like Steam, GOG, or the eShop.