Unbound Enters Administration Amid Payment Controversies: Video Game Authors Impacted

Unbound, the UK-based crowdfunding publisher known for its catalogue of video game and pop culture books, has entered administration as of March 10, 2025, following severe cash flow challenges and ongoing payment disputes with authors and freelancers.

According to a report from The Bookseller, Opus Restructuring’s Allister Manson and Charles Turner have been appointed as administrators after a series of financial setbacks that have rocked the company and reverberated throughout the publishing and gaming communities. Founded in 2011, Unbound gained recognition for pioneering a unique crowdfunding approach to book publishing, allowing backers to pledge support ahead of publication.

Over the years, the publisher has released a number of notable titles that appeal to video game enthusiasts, such as “Perfect Organism,” “20 GOTO 10,” “Who Hunts The Whale,” “Taming Gaming,” “Itchy, Tasty,” “Region Locked,” and “Video Game Obscurities.” Despite its popularity in the gaming book sector and solid ratings on platforms like Amazon, Unbound’s financial situation has left numerous authors unpaid, some for over a year, even as their books accumulated impressive sales. Author Steven Goodwin, whose 2023 release “20 GOTO 10” sold tens of thousands of copies, voiced his frustration on LinkedIn, stating that despite the book’s commercial success, he received no royalties.

Goodwin detailed his efforts to resolve the issue, including multiple correspondences and ultimately escalating the matter to legal proceedings.

Shortly after his legal escalation, Unbound announced its move into administration, leading affected writers and supporters to seek transparency and accountability from the company’s leadership. The crisis came to a head in late 2024 when Unbound publicly acknowledged ongoing cash flow problems.

The company cited its inability to secure sufficient capital that year as the root of its financial trouble, prompting a drastic internal restructure and a halt on new book commissions.

New CEO Archna Sharma, previously chief executive at Neem Tree Press (acquired by Unbound in September 2024), addressed stakeholders in a statement to The Bookseller: "I want to express my deepest regret for the delay in royalty payments and the financial uncertainty that our authors, freelancers, suppliers, and investors have endured.

I assure everyone engaged with Unbound that we are working extremely hard to clear our debts and honor the trust you have placed in us." Alongside Sharma, newly appointed chairman Hugo Drayton invested in the company, though Unbound confirms these efforts fell short of resolving the deficit.

The publisher has continued to seek additional investment to stabilize operations but, as of March 2025, has ceased commissioning new titles.

Authors such as Tom Cox and Anastasia Miari have publicly disclosed being owed royalties for extended periods, with Miari’s book raising £30,000 in pledges without payment fulfillment. Company founder John Mitchinson, in a statement, acknowledged the distress experienced by Unbound’s authors, describing it as the most challenging period in the publisher’s fourteen-year history.

Mitchinson expressed confidence in Sharma’s leadership and vision, stating he believes she has the skills and determination to guide Unbound through its current difficulties and build an ambitious new iteration of the business. Unbound’s demise leaves a significant impact on authors, especially in the gaming sector, who trusted the platform’s crowdfunding model to bring their work to print.

As the administration process unfolds, affected writers and freelancers now await further clarity regarding owed payments and the future of Unbound and its catalogue of acclaimed video game books.