Double Fine has rekindled hope for a sequel to its 2009 cult classic, Brutal Legend. However, the prospect of Brutal Legend 2 arriving hinges on an extraordinary fundraising target of $100 million through the studio's current Kickstarter campaign, 'Amnesia Fortnight 2026, Indie Reboot'.
This ambitious goal was revealed following Double Fine's recent return to independence after being acquired by Xbox. The campaign aims to fund a two-week game jam event, which will produce several playable prototypes. One of these prototypes will then be developed into a full, albeit small, game under Double Fine's new publishing label, Double Fine Action Labs. The event also includes a behind-the-scenes documentary produced by 2 Player Productions.
The $100 million figure for Brutal Legend 2 is listed as a stretch goal within the crowdfunding campaign. For context, the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever raised $46 million for a 3D printer, and in the realm of video games, Shenmue 3 holds the record with approximately $6 million. Double Fine's current campaign, aiming for an initial goal of roughly £295,000, has so far garnered over £236,000.
This announcement also serves as a reminder of Double Fine's creative process, with the studio noting that 'Amnesia Fortnight' is a long-standing tradition dating back to 2007. During this period, developers pitch game ideas, and prototypes are created. Several of Double Fine's past titles, including Costume Quest and Iron Brigade, originated from these game jam projects.