One Less Star in the Sea of Stars
"Sea of Stars," the beautiful turn-based RPG by indie developer Sabotage Studio, is replacing a character based on YouTuber Jirard Khalil. Following ongoing investigations into the charity organization "The Open Hand Foundation," of which Khalil was a board member until recently, Sabotage Studio has decided to remove Khalil's cameo from the game.
"Sea of Stars" is one of the most charming RPG games of the year, thanks to its gorgeous art and animations, a heartwarming and humorous story with lovable characters, and intelligently designed turn-based combat mechanics. Unfortunately, the inclusion of a character based on Khalil, named 'Jirard the Constructionist,' has come under scrutiny following discussions about "The Open Hand Foundation."
The Controversy Surrounding 'The Open Hand Foundation'
On Monday, November 13th, YouTubers Karl Jobst and Mutahar 'SomeOrdinaryGamers' Ana uploaded videos claiming that "The Open Hand Foundation," founded by Khalil's father, is withholding over $600,000 in donations that have been received by the foundation since its establishment in 2014. These donations also include those made during Khalil's annual IndieLand fundraising events.
Khalil's Response and Apology
In a video response, Khalil denies allegations of criminal or financial fraud but admits, "I am disappointed that I was not clearer about the foundation's donation schedule and that I made statements that potentially implied donations were made when they were not. It took too long for clear actions to be taken, and I apologize for that."
Changes in Sea of Stars
Sabotage Studio CEO Thierry Boulanger explains, "A small patch will soon go live on Steam and be sent to consoles to replace the Builder NPC in Mirth," referring to the character based on Khalil. "After careful observation of the events in recent weeks, we have come to this decision," Boulanger continues. "We appreciate your support and trust that you will respect our decision."
If you want to learn more about the background story or simply play a great RPG, you can secure the Sea of Stars Key with us. We will keep you updated on further developments surrounding Sea of Stars and other exciting games.
