Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Double Fine Regains Game Rights and Bets on Kickstarter Game Jam

Regaining publishing rights lets the studio earn revenue to extend runway through a Kickstarter-backed, livestreamed Amnesia Fortnight.

Overview

  • Double Fine confirmed Friday that it is independent from Microsoft and has regained ownership and publishing rights to the games it made under Xbox.
  • The studio will launch a Kickstarter on August 31 for Amnesia Fortnight 2026, a livestreamed game jam where backers will help choose four prototypes and then vote which prototype becomes a small released game.
  • 2 Player Productions will document the event for a studio documentary, and the Kickstarter campaign will run through most of September.
  • Double Fine cut 23 staff during its transition to independence to reach a smaller, sustainable size, a move the company said was needed to protect the studio’s future.
  • Workers’ earlier NLRB union petition was reportedly withdrawn and the studio is now using direct game revenue plus Kickstarter funds to extend runway as it reorients after Xbox’s restructuring.