Starbreeze has signed a publishing agreement with Double Fine Productions regarding the game Psychonauts 2, to be released in 2018. According to the press release, Starbreeze will invest $8 million to bring the game to PC and other console platforms through digital distribution.
Starbreeze will be able to recoup 100% of its full investment including marketing costs with an initial revenue share of 85% after distribution and platform fees and Fig crowdfunding revenue share. Starbreeze share of revenues will become 60% after the investment is recouped. Double Fine will retain 100% of the intellectual property relating to Psychonauts 2.
Psychonauts 2 is a third-person action/adventure platformer where players control Razputin Aquato – a newly graduated Psychonaut with powerful psychic abilities – as he delves into the minds of others. The player will use Raz’s PSI powers, such as telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and levitation, in combination with Raz’s acrobatic platforming skills, to explore the mental worlds of the game’s eccentric characters.
The story of Psychonauts 2 picks up directly after the events of the first game, and the VR adventure Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, but players will not need to have played those games to follow the events of Psychonauts 2. In this new story, Raz arrives at Psychonaut headquarters, excited to finally become an official Psychonaut, but soon finds himself torn between the laws of the Psychonauts, his loyalty to his friends, and a secret mission that could undo everything for which he has fought so hard.
Bo Andersson-Klint, Starbreeze CEO, said:
“Many of us gamers who’ve grown up during 70’s and 80’s have at some point come across the great games from Double Fine and Tim Schafer. Games like Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, and Brütal Legend are all in the list of personal all time favorites for many of us. We’re very proud to be able to add this prominent collaboration to our Publishing business. Starbreeze is looking forward to support Double Fine in bringing the new and exciting game Psychonauts 2 to young and old gamers world wide.”
Double Fine President and CEO Tim Schafer added:
“Starbreeze is the perfect partner for Double Fine and our backers on Psychonauts 2. Their expertise in not just developing and publishing games, but supporting them after launch will be a great benefit for players of the game.”
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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Can Double Fine finish a game in time and on budget now? I doubt it so best of luck to Starbreeze.
why people keep giving money to Schaffer?
To the below commentators: I believe that in your quest to appear wise and cynical you have forgotten yourselves. Making a complete game on the level of Psychonauts is an extremely demanding task. I’d bet you never stood up to a challenge of that magnitude, late delivery or not, and that you were never as accomplished in anything as the developers of Double Fine are in their craft. Critique is fine when needed, but a little humility will do you wonders.
http://i.imgur.com/89HANHg.gif
To the above commentator: an ‘extremely demanding task’ is to become a neurosurgeon, a special forces operator, an aeronautical engineer, etc. Making a videogame is not.
Also, your presumption that nobody here never accomplished anything while at the same time preaching the wonders of humility tells me you’re a moron. Have a nice day.
You’re wrong. Developing a modern game to completion is a very demanding task, one that requires no less skill than a neurosurgeon has, even if you consider it a less “respectable” job.
As for presuming that no one here has ever accomplished anything, I didn’t presume that. You did. The only thing I assume is that people who are quick to make fun of talented and hard working developers are people who don’t understand real effort, and thus are likely people who have never accomplished anything requiring a real effort.
The people on this site are, in general, big on rude critique but very small on respect and understanding, as you clearly exemplify in your response.
Developing a videogame or becoming a videogame developer does not require nearly as much skill or effort as it does to become a neurosurgeon, it’s just silly to think otherwise.
Yes, you did presume that, and I quote: “I’d bet you … were never as accomplished in anything as the developers of Double Fine are in their craft.”
Paying customers can complain and critique whatever they want regarding the product they bought or the company that makes the product they bought, more shocking news after the break.
Ah, I see, you’re one of those ‘if you don’t agree with me you’re wrong – if you critique something I like, you’re a hater’ type. Figures.
“Developing a videogame or becoming a videogame developer does not require nearly as much skill or effort as it does to become a
neurosurgeon”
— But it definitely takes much more skill than being a wannabe internet critic, just saying.
“Paying customers can complain and critique whatever they want regarding the product”
— Regarding the product, yes. Not regarding video game development itself. That’s why I believe we should judge games by themselves, not by the people involved in making them.
” But it definitely takes much more skill than being a wannabe internet critic, just saying.”
So? That’s totally beside the point. I think it’s pretty obvious that there is a large amount of professions and jobs that require less skill than game development. Or do you actually think nobody on this message board has a job? And if you don’t think that, how do you know their job demands less skill than video game development?
“Regarding the product, yes. Not regarding video game development itself. That’s why I believe we should judge games by themselves, not by the people involved in making them.”
Oh, I’m sure if Peter Molyneux or Sean Murray start hyping another game you would believe them, no questions asked…
“And if you don’t think that, how do you know their job demands less skill than video game development?”
— Having a skill in a particular job doesn’t translate to having an equal amount of skill in another. A good farmer can criticize farming because he knows the ins and outs of it, regardless of skill level. But he can’t claim to be an expert weatherman on the internet, can he? However, he can criticize incorrect weather reporting despite being a farmer.
“Oh, I’m sure if Peter Molyneux or Sean Murray start hyping another game you would believe them, no questions asked…”
— Not really. Peter Molyneux and Sean Murray are not products. Thus they don’t figure in the equation. If they were, I’d reconsider.
“. Not regarding video game development itself. That’s why I believe we should judge games by themselves, not by the people involved in making them.”
Did you play any of the games double fine made in the last few years? They are obviously lazy and horrible at managing money and deadlines.
Like I said, I go by the product and not the company history or the marketing or the people involved. If it’s a good product, I buy. If not, I don’t. Cuts out the complexity and lets the game speak for itself.
” Developing a modern game to completion is a very demanding task, one that requires no less skill than a neurosurgeon has, ”
You are right man, this is why games nowdays cant even compete with games from the 90s. No i am serious. Take your average indie game that was made with a larger team and better tools and higher budget than a game in the 90s. Not only its shorter but even the pixelart is inferior let alone no one even bothers doing it 3d. So you get walking simulators instead of that.
Litteraly anyone can make a game nowdays with the tools available. I mean heck, you dont even need to make a game to get recognition from these clique of lazy hipsters. Gone home is one thing, but the beginners guide, is a far better example.
” The only thing I assume is that people who are quick to make fun of talented and hard working developers are people who don’t understand real effort,”
HAHAHAHA
“Quick to make fun”
So many years so many failures we are quick
“talented”
Em no, maybe 10 years ago
“hard working”
AHAHAHHAHAHAH is that why Tim missed all deadline and wasted all that money”
“dont understand real effort”
if you lazy every effort seems “real” but its the result that matters honey….if the result is bad, you just aint good at it.
“Making a complete game on the level of Psychonauts is an extremely demanding task. ”
You are right which is why double find cant do it.
“you were never as accomplished in anything as the developers of Double Fine are in their craft. ”
When it was the last time that double fine made a good game?
The entire industry has abandoned them because they are impossible to work and deliver, which is why doublefine is now a bunch of hipsters who think they know better than anyone else, like i said i would trust a vampire with a B J more than Tim Schafer with watering my flowers.
“but a little humility will do you wonders.”
You might want to tell that to Tim.
great news! now i know for sure to avoid to garbage.
starbreeze are a sjw pandering pub/dev, tim schaffednuts is a theiving p.o.s who hasnt made a good game since the last psychonauts and this wont be good because everyone who made that game good isnt involved. tim is a “ideaman” and is a hack who rides off other coattails because he is a talentless jew, money grubbing/scammer.
That fatso is only gonna eat better. He is so dislikable at first glance.
Hope they keep the art-style, I hate inconsistent graphics between sequels.
Overwatch is SJW crap period.
This just proves you’re hypocrite.