Arcade legend Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has been awarded nearly $250,000 in damages after an Australian court ruled that YouTuber Karl Jobst defamed him in a controversial video.
As reported by PC Gamer, Jobst - known for his competitive gaming and speedrunning content - featured Mitchell in a video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" The court found the 500,000-view video contained defamatory statements with unverified claims about Mitchell.
High Score Controversy and Redemption
Mitchell's gaming titles were temporarily revoked in 2018 when Twin Galaxies removed his scores amid allegations he used emulators rather than original arcade cabinets to achieve records in Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr.
After a six-year battle to clear his name, Mitchell successfully had his accomplishments restored in Twin Galaxies' historical archives, with the Guinness World Records reinstating his scores in 2020.
The legal case focused not on Mitchell's gaming records, but on Jobst's 2021 video which Mitchell claimed implied his previous lawsuit against YouTuber Benjamin "Apollo Legend" Smith caused financial ruin and contributed to Smith's tragic death in 2020, with alleged remarks celebrating the tragedy.
Jobst later edited the video after legal threats, with Smith's family confirming no damages were ever paid.
Creator Responds to Ruling
"I lost. The judge found Billy to be a credible witness and believed his entire testimony," Jobst stated on X/Twitter, clarifying he never accused Mitchell of cheating but based his statements on "incorrect information from multiple sources."
He added: "From that point on unfortunately there was really nothing that could have saved me. I will now obviously consider my options."
"I am proud that I never backed down and never allowed a bully to control my free expression," Jobst concluded in a follow-up post.
The court ordered Jobst to pay $187,800 for damages, $31,300 in aggravated damages, plus $22,000 interest - totaling approximately $241,000. The judge noted Mitchell could have sought higher compensation.
Mitchell first gained fame with a perfect Pac-Man score in the 1980s before becoming a central figure in the 2007 documentary King of Kong, which chronicled his rivalry with Steve Wiebe.
