2k Games PR firm fired after threatening to blacklist critics

2k Games has cut off all ties with The Redner Group, a public relations agency that up until recently represented the gaming company, after an embarrassing Twitter exchange that left Redner Group’s Jim Redner begging for forgiveness.

The controversy started after Redner responded to the wave of disappointed (and sometimes overly vile) criticism pointed at 2k Games’ recent Duke Nukem Forever release.

We are reviewing who gets games next time and who doesn’t based on today’s venom. Bad scores are fine. Venom filled reviews … that’s completely different.

It’s true, companies will pick and choose who will receive copies of the games based on prior reviews, but to threaten blacklisting outright in public is, well, a bad PR move.

2k Games responded by severing their alliance with Redner Group, claiming that Redner was acting of his own volition and did not represent the gaming company’s opinions.

Redner then attempted to apologize to the public.

I have to apologize to the community. I acted out of pure emotion. I will be sending each of you a private apology.

“2K Games does not endorse or condone the comments made by [The Redner Group],” 2k Games Tweeted, “and confirm they no longer represent our products.”

Seems Redner’s apology was too little too late.