Overview
- Gilbert confirmed in a Bloomberg interview published Friday that he accepted funding from an anonymous wealthy fan after turning down publisher offers and another crowdfunding run.
- He presented a realistic budget of just over $1 million to cover about two years of development and says the project is targeting an early 2028 release.
- Gilbert described the deal as fairer than typical publisher contracts because the investor will recoup costs quickly and then the revenue will be split more evenly.
- Production was announced in late July with a Steam wishlist live and core members of the 2017 team reported to be returning, while specific console or platform confirmations remain unfinalized.
- The move builds on the original game’s long tail of sales after a 2014 Kickstarter, and it highlights a private-patron model creators may use to retain control and pay developers more reliably.