Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, has regained the publishing rights to its game catalog, according to a statement from CEO Tim Schafer. This move follows a similar announcement from Compulsion Games, developer of South of Midnight, which also recently secured the publishing rights to its titles. Schafer confirmed the transfer of intellectual property on Kinda Funny Games Daily, noting that while some game listings may still display 'Microsoft' due to processing delays, the rights have officially returned to Double Fine.
"When people buy our games, it supports the studio," Schafer stated. "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." This financial runway is crucial for the studio's continued operation and development efforts following its independence from Xbox.
In conjunction with regaining its independence, Double Fine is also reviving its Amnesia Fortnight game jam. This initiative, where small teams within the studio develop prototypes in two weeks, was a hallmark of their pre-Xbox era. "Being independent again, we can go back to do a lot of things we were doing before," Schafer explained. The studio plans to use its regained runway to sign new game deals and embark on projects, though he cautioned that this period of independence is a limited opportunity.
A Kickstarter campaign for Amnesia Fortnight is set to launch on August 31st. Participants will have the opportunity to vote on which game pitches from Double Fine's developers will be produced. The studio intends to develop approximately four prototypes from the game jam, with further development planned for at least one of them based on community selection.
This news arrives a month after Double Fine underwent layoffs, reportedly affecting a quarter of its staff, a consequence of its transition away from Microsoft's oversight. The studio hopes to leverage its renewed independence and community support to sustain its operations and continue creating new titles.