Double Fine, the studio behind titles like Psychonauts, Costume Quest, and Brutal Legend, has officially regained full ownership of all its intellectual property and publishing rights to its games. This development follows the studio's spin-off from Microsoft.
Tim Schafer, CEO of Double Fine, confirmed the news on Kinda Funny Games Daily, addressing questions about the financial returns from games developed under Microsoft's ownership. "Everything, we got back, the transfer of the IP came back to us," Schafer stated. "All, we have the publishing rights back to our games." While some game titles may still bear Microsoft's name due to processing delays, Schafer emphasized that all game sales now directly support the studio. "When people buy our games, it supports the studio. So if you’re curious, buying any of our games helps support the studio, and we can turn that money into revenue that helps us extend that runway."
IMAGE2:
Double Fine is currently working on updates for its recent release, Kiln, with a significant update planned for the upcoming week that will introduce new maps and game modes. The game is also slated for a price reduction to coincide with this update.
Additionally, Schafer announced the return of the studio's internal game jam event, Amnesia Fortnight. This iteration will be a live event with a Kickstarter campaign, allowing supporters to vote on which game concepts the studio will develop. The initiative aims to fund a small Kickstarter project to provide financial stability for the studio as it pursues other ventures.
Double Fine was acquired by Microsoft in 2019. During its time under Microsoft, the studio released Psychonauts 2, as well as the games Keeper and Kiln. The studio's recent independence came after a wider restructuring at Xbox. Like other studios in similar situations, such as Compulsion Games which recently announced self-publishing for its game South of Midnight, Double Fine has also undergone layoffs.IMAGE4:
