Midnight Society, the game studio co-founded by controversial streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm, is shutting down after three years in operation. The closure comes just four months after significant layoffs and coincides with Google lifting Beahm’s YouTube monetization ban, a penalty imposed following his admission of inappropriate interactions with a minor.
A Studio Built on Controversy Collapses
Founded in 2021 by Beahm and former Call of Duty community manager Robert Bowling, Midnight Society aimed to carve out a niche in the shooter genre. Its first project, Deaddrop, a free-to-play vertical extraction shooter, was announced in 2022. Despite maintaining steady development, the studio faced a turbulent 2024, largely due to Beahm’s public admission of exchanging messages with a minor in 2017.
The fallout was swift. Bowling and Midnight Society distanced themselves from Beahm, but the damage was already done. In September 2023, the company laid off a significant portion of its workforce, attributing the move to “multiple unexpected challenges.” Now, the entire operation is shutting down.
Official Statement Confirms Midnight Society’s End
In a statement posted on social media, Midnight Society confirmed its closure, thanking the 55 developers who worked on Deaddrop and expressing regret over failing to achieve its long-term goals.
“Today, we are announcing Midnight Society will be closing its doors after three incredible years,” the statement read. “We are actively seeking other game studios that would be interested in offering employment opportunities to our talented team members.”
The studio also addressed its loyal fanbase, stating, “We express our sincere gratitude to each and every one of our community members and are deeply sorry we were unable to reach our ultimate goal.”
Google’s Timing Raises Eyebrows
The closure of Midnight Society coincided with another significant development—Google reinstating Beahm’s ability to monetize his YouTube content.
Beahm’s YouTube channel was demonetized in June 2023 after he admitted to “inappropriate” messaging with a minor, a decision Google upheld following an appeal in October. Despite Beahm later attempting to downplay the messages as “jokes,” the ban remained in place.
Now, Google has reversed its stance.
“Dr Disrespect was previously suspended from the YouTube Partner Program for violations of our Creator Responsibility policies,” a spokesperson told Kotaku’s Ethan Gach. “Creators who are suspended from this program can reapply for access, and after careful review of the channel’s recent activity, we’ve reinstated it. If there are further violations, we’ll take appropriate action.”
Notably, Google did not specify what had changed since the previous appeal.
Beahm Reacts to the Unusual Coincidence
In a stream following the announcement, Beahm appeared surprised by the timing of the developments.
“What a fucking weird world, huh?” he said. “On the day that Midnight Society closes, we get monetization. What a fucking trip.”
Beahm’s comments reflect the irony of the situation—just as his studio collapses, his personal revenue stream gets a lifeline.
What Happens to Deaddrop?
With Midnight Society shutting down, the fate of Deaddrop remains uncertain. The game, still in development, was marketed as an innovative take on the extraction shooter genre, drawing inspiration from Escape from Tarkov and Call of Duty: Warzone.
The studio’s closure announcement made no mention of whether Deaddrop would be acquired by another publisher or left unfinished. However, given that the game had built a following, there’s potential for another company to step in and salvage the project.
Fallout from Beahm’s Scandal
Beahm has been no stranger to controversy. His mysterious and still-unexplained permanent Twitch ban in 2020 fueled speculation for years. Then, in 2023, he admitted to exchanging inappropriate messages with a minor back in 2017, an admission that led to widespread backlash.
Despite his attempt to reframe the situation as a misunderstanding, his reputation took a hit. Midnight Society’s distancing from Beahm likely wasn’t enough to prevent the loss of trust from investors and the gaming community.
Industry Reactions
The closure of Midnight Society adds another chapter to the ongoing discussions about accountability in gaming. While Beahm has retained a loyal fanbase, his controversies continue to shape his career trajectory.
Meanwhile, Google’s decision to reinstate his monetization has sparked debate. Some argue that content creators should have a path to redemption, while others question why the company changed its stance after rejecting his appeal just months earlier.
For the gaming industry, this situation highlights the volatility of reputation management, especially in a digital age where public perception can make or break entire companies. Midnight Society’s fate is a stark reminder of how a single controversy can ripple outwards, affecting not just the individual at the center of it, but everyone associated with them.
