Overview
- Tim Schafer said Double Fine chose to exit Microsoft in early July after Xbox leadership under Asha Sharma signaled a new platform strategy that no longer aligned with the studio’s mission to put games on Game Pass.
- The studio reduced its headcount by 23 positions at the end of July to reach a smaller, sustainable team size and protect the company’s future.
- Double Fine has regained publishing control of its titles and is seeking immediate income through ports and remasters so that sales of its back catalog flow directly to the studio.
- The studio’s community-focused Amnesia Fortnight Kickstarter has far exceeded its $400,000 goal and will fund game jams whose winning projects will be published under the new Double Fine Action Labs label.
- Schafer is pitching new projects to outside investors while framing the moves as deliberate stewardship to keep employees working and preserve Double Fine’s creative identity.