When it comes to passion projects brought back solely through fan demand, few can match Double Fine's Psychonauts 2, which was resurrected solely through the dedication of its cult-fanbase. Funded through Fig, the project amassed millions of dollars and quickly became the poster boy for the potential of crowd-funding.
As many will know, the project got even more financial backing after Double Fine was acquired by Microsoft back in 2019. While that may seem like it was merely an added bonus for the development of the long-awaited sequel, it turns out the support of Microsoft was more important to the project than some might expect, with Tim Schafer telling GamesIndustry.biz that it allowed them to incorporate ideas that were once going to be left on the cutting room floor.
"With Psychonauts 2, we could see the end of our budget coming up, and so we had cut a lot of stuff," Schafer tells the publication. "We had cut our boss fights. Now we are able to put those back in, and we're like 'we think people would have noticed if we didn't have those boss fights'. Being able to complete the game in the way that it was meant to be was very important." It's evident that the extra funding is allowing Psychonauts 2 to become the game Double Fine wanted it to be, with no idea too grand or expensive to incorporate into the experience.
Schafer goes on to express just how important that sense of limitless freedom is to developing a sequel with such insane ideas as Psychonauts 2, claiming: "I'm looking forward to doing things for the right reasons. When you only have a certain amount of time and money, you might jump into a part of the game that you're not ready to jump into, or start working on art before you're ready with design. But now I look forward to this era where we are doing everything for what is right for the game." Evidently, the backing and support of a company like Microsoft means Double Fine can impose fewer limitations on itself and make the sequel fans have been clamoring for since 2005.
Speaking of Psychonauts' long-awaited sequel, it seems the title will get some brand new gameplay at Microsoft's upcoming showcase. With the game allegedly dropping later this year, it will be a fantastic chance for fans to see what Microsoft's backing has meant for Double Fine's newest title while also giving players unaware of the crazy platformer their first taste of its eccentric tone.
Psychonauts 2Â will launch on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2020.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
