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Double Fine’s ‘Psychonauts 2’ Gets Delayed to 2020
What’s another year when you’ve been waiting since 2005?
Psychonauts 2, Double Fine’s long-anticipated follow-up to their PS2-era superpower summer camp platformer Psychonauts — which was originally scheduled for a 2018 release before slipping to 2019 — has been pushed back to 2020.
The once famously independent studio, led by adventure game veteran Tim Schafer, was recently purchased by Microsoft. It announced the delay in a backer update on Fig, the crowdfunding platform that helped the studio raise more than $3 million toward the project.
“We’re now targeting next year for release,” the studio wrote. “We know it’s always disappointing when you have to wait a bit longer, but we also know that you are an amazing, supportive bunch, who – just like us – want the game to be as good as possible. So we’re hopeful you’ll understand! <3”
And, the comments suggest that, in fact, most of the backers are “an amazing, supportive bunch.” While some worried and/or complained about the studio’s sale to Microsoft, most comments were generous.
“I’m really happy you get another year,” Fig user mrwonko wrote. “Don’t crunch!”
User Pax C. agreed: “yeah. crunching and rushing will always be worse for everyone. always.”
It appeared that Psychonauts 2’s future might be in jeopardy before the Microsoft acquisition. Former publisher Starbreeze has been troubled for some time after the failure of Overkill’s The Walking Dead last fall. The company recently sold publishing rights to System Shock 3 and 10 Crowns and, in June, laid off 25 percent of its workforce. CEO Mikael Nermark has said that the company will not last another year without external funding.
So, while some fans may be unhappy with Double Fine’s sale to Microsoft, Psychonauts 2 will likely exist sometime next year. The same can’t be said for the game’s former publisher.
All of us here at Bloody Disgusting are deeply sad to learn that The Blob director Chuck Russell has passed away at 74 years old.
Russell’s career began with his directorial debut, 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
The multihyphenate film director, screenwriter, and producer is best known for helming 1994 comedy The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger actioner Eraser, and adventure spinoff The Scorpion King. The latter served as the first leading role for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The filmmaker left an indelible mark on horror with his ANOES sequel, 1988’s The Blob, and 2000’s Bless the Child.
Russell’s final film credit is 2024’s Witchboard remake starring Madison Iseman (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), and Jamie Campbell Bower (“Stranger Things”).
It marked Russell’s return to horror after a lengthy hiatus, and he shared sequel hopes to Bloody Disgusting in an interview ahead of the remake’s release: “I got to design the board with real mystical symbols and things that I know represent good and evil, and where that board takes us if the audiences respond to the film, and I hope they will; I know it’s out there for you guys, but the sequel is a world we’ll get to go a little further. That’s sure the intention.”
He also recently expressed interest in returning to the franchise that began his career.
TMZ notes that Russell passed away at his San Diego-area home.
We send our deepest condolences to Chuck Russell’s family, friends, and fans.
Director, Co-Writer & Producer Chuck Russell behind the scenes of the horror film, WITCHBOARD. Photo courtesy of The Avenue and Atlas Distribution
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