After raising protected labor and IP concerns during my paternity leave, I returned to find myself locked out of KOMPETE. Email, Slack, admin access, everything—without a single message from the company.
I was never informed I’d been fired. The first and only indication came when a trusted community member reached out in disbelief—after learning that team leadership had begun quietly leaking I’d been “let go over pay.” No call. No text. Just silence, then spin.
Over the past several weeks, I’d spent my leave trying to resolve and advocate for issues I believed were critical to the fundability, platform certification (Epic Games, iOS App Store, Google Play, PlayStation, Xbox), and long-term viability of KOMPETE.
I sent three letters detailing specific labor, IP, and operational concerns I believed I was entangled in and felt needed urgent attention, proposing a collaborative path forward. Only the first received a response—but it didn’t address any substantive issues I raised.
Instead, I received what I perceived to be an attempt at emotional manipulation. After that, nothing. No discussion, no resolution, no follow-up—just a wall of silence as I continued raising valid concerns.
If those concerns hold up, they could pose meaningful risk to the platform and its future. I believe I was retaliated against, and not because I was wrong, but because I refused to quietly accept terms I felt were unfair and potentially problematic.
To rewind a bit, this breakdown started eight days before the birth of my daughter, when I was informed that a verbal arrangement I had relied on in good faith for my financial planning was no longer on the table upon my return from leave.
The new offer had similar weekly pay but required me to waive all legal protections over past employment classification and give up IP claims for KOMPETE and separate monetized content I created outside of any work-for-hire agreement. I’m willing to share terms, with permission.
To be clear, this has never been “just about money.” I worked for years at a below-market rate without formal protections because I loved the work and trusted leadership. I believed someone I considered a long-time friend would ultimately do right by me.
Instead, What I was told—and then documented in real time—was that my problems, including a growing family, weren’t relevant to the business. The implication, as I understood it, was that my years of hard work were seen as a favor to me—not something of value to the company.
At one point, my personal stake in the ecosystem was worth enough to radically change my life—but I stayed and kept building. I believed in the platform’s vision, the opportunity its economy created, and most of all, the culture and community of the KOMPETITORS that shaped it.
If this is purely business, then I will defend my contributions and dignity accordingly. All I asked for was recognition of the value I brought, reasonable compensation, and a commitment to addressing issues I found to be problematic not just for me, but for the company.
I chose to stand on principle to try and protect what I helped build. My daughter will someday learn that no one deserves to be treated like a doormat, regardless of personal cost and even when it’s hard. In that spirit, I believe the KOMPETE community deserves better.
I’ve outlined these issues in detail across the letters I sent, each pushing for open dialogue and a constructive path forward. I don’t claim to be the final arbiter of truth—but every concern I raised is backed by documentation I believe is both relevant and credible.
Transparency has always been a core value of this project, and it should remain one now. I give my unequivocal permission for KOMPETE to publish those letters in full.
In addition, here are a few questions I hope will be addressed at the next “State of the Platform.” These aren’t accusations—they’re important questions that deserve clear, direct answers. They should be softballs: an easy “yes” if the right protections are in place.
Have past and present workers been correctly classified with proper, enforceable agreements?
Does KOMPETE possess exclusive, unclouded ownership of all Intellectual Property, as required to certify the game on distribution platforms including Epic Games, iOS App Store, Google Play, PlayStation, and Xbox?
Is the company confident it could pass investor or exchange due diligence regarding these matters?
Out of necessity, I’ll be selling some of my remaining tokens to support my family. I’m now unemployed, with no income or protections as a new dad. These were vested over years and publicly disclosed—I’m just being transparent, as I always pushed KOMPETE to be.
Speaking up hasn’t been easy, and I know some wish I hadn’t. But when there’s smoke, you pull the fire alarm. If I’m wrong, the company should publish the letters and answer the questions. The community and team who built this platform deserve that much.
I’ll be reviewing any company response or communication related to me or my work to ensure it’s accurate and non-defamatory. Any false or misleading claims will be addressed through ongoing efforts to protect my rights. If I’m accused of lying, prove it—legally.
Despite everything, I remain hopeful these issues can ultimately be resolved. I don’t believe anything here is inherently fatal, but fixing it will take an uncompromising effort. If that’s to be done, I’ll need to participate at some level, and I remain willing for the good of the platform.
I still believe KOMPETE can redefine the industry if this is handled correctly. I wrote as much in the final paragraph of my last letter, sent Tuesday morning:
"Regardless, I truly want to see KOMPETE thrive. Helping build it has been a childhood dream come true and I’d love nothing more than to watch it throw a punch at Take-Two after all. KOMPETE is an underdog story, and every hero’s journey has a moment that makes them earn it. I’d rather help write a good ending than watch a bad one unfold. Hopefully we can still make that happen."
-0xJablo
