Refunds must be coming in at higher rates than you expected to see you actually take the time to try and clarify this. But since you did, I think it’s fair we point out the disingenuous elements of your statements here:
You will receive a Steam key or gog key in addition to an Epic store key, after the period of exclusivity.
That’s all well and good, except that’s not what we paid you for. You’re trying to pretend as if you didn’t violate your pre-order agreements, except that’s exactly what you did.
We are not asking you to support Epic’s business strategy, or the idea of exclusivity.
Actually, that’s PRECISELY what you’re asking us to do. By having funded your game for you and enabling you to reach the point we’re at now, we’ve already effectively helped you support Epic’s business strategy and the idea of exclusivity. Of all the garbage you’ve spewed in response to this debacle, this is the most insulting.
I can live with a lot of your other spin, even if I refuse to support it, but a statement like this is a complete and utter lie.
Phoenix Point will be DRM free on Epic and can be played offline.
Doesn’t matter, wasn’t what we paid for. Give us what we paid for, delivered in the manner you committed to, or at least provide a direct download outside of Epic to do so.
Yes, we know your contract prohibits this, it’s time to man up and go back to the drawing board with Epic, because you’re destroying your company’s image in the absence of that (and maybe even in spite of that, at this point).
The Epic deal will certainly make Phoenix Point a better game at no extra cost to backers.
The first half of this can never be proven, so you might as well stop saying it. The second half of this is an utter lie. The extra cost may not be directly monetary at this point, but results from the ongoing damage you’re helping to deliver to the gaming industry through your support of Epic and their b.s. exclusivity deals.
All backers have been contacted by email explaining the situation and full refunds have been offered for anybody who is not happy.
Backers are continuing to report that they have not received these emails (and these are just the ones who have found out about your announcement through other means, plenty likely remain uncontacted).
Furthermore, the refund method you are offering is not sufficient (and I trust you know this), and unless you start acknowledging your responsibility here, you should expect to receive continued disputes being filed (which you may or may not care about).