Microsoft knows that they are lacking in exclusive games on Xbox. Which is why they spent the last few years acquiring a new batch of development studios to be part of their first-party team at Microsoft Studios- now Xbox Game Studios.
And at E3 2019, they have publicly announced one new addition to the Xbox Game Studios: Double Fine Productions.
Double Fine, founded by veteran developer Tim Schafer, has been in the forefront of the indie scene. They’ve made weird games like Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, XBLA games like Stacking and Iron Brigade, and found early success in the crowdfunding scene like when they used Kickstarter to fund The Broken Age. Now they are joining the Xbox Game Studios family.
Alongside that, Microsoft also acquired the rights to publish Double Fine’s upcoming project Psychonauts 2 from ailing publisher Starbreeze for 13. 2 million USD.
However, since the game was funded through crowdfunding platform Fig, Double Fine reassures the game (and it’s other game Rad published by Bandai Namco) will still be releasing on the platforms it promised to release on.
Microsoft has honoured several deals like this, including Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds and InXile Entertainment’s Wasteland 3. The same goes for games by Double Fine.
For Psychonauts fans, Psychonauts 2 got a new trailer. Raz and Lily are seen in suits, and there’s a lot more gameplay being shown. If you’re familiar with Raz’s psychic power, the combat and platforming bits should look like the first game. Hopefully with tighter controls this time.
Psychonauts 2 is still headed to PS4, PC (Steam) and Xbox One sometime in 2019. It will be on Xbox Game Pass on release.