Tim Schafer Says Double Fine's Xbox Split Was A 'Creative Awakening'
Double Fine boss Tim Schafer has opened up about the studio's sudden independence from Xbox, framing the dramatic split as a fresh start. According to interviews with Bloomberg reported by IGN and Kotaku, Schafer described the period as a "creative awakening" for his team.
The developer was divested by Xbox this summer as part of the platform holder's major restructuring. Schafer told Bloomberg that he sensed a shift after Phil Spencer retired and new CEO Asha Sharma took over. "We had a mutually beneficial mission, which is just to put great games on Game Pass, and then their mission changed," he said, per Kotaku.
Schafer emphasized his determination to control his studio's fate. He stated that the only person who would ever shut Double Fine down is himself, but that he has no intention of doing so because he believes in its future, according to the reports.
The transition came with a cost. The studio had to lay off 23 staff members, Kotaku notes. However, Double Fine retained its intellectual property and is now fully independent. The developer has launched a Kickstarter for its next project, with a stretch goal promising Brutal Legend 2 if it raises $100 million.
In a sign of its newfound freedom, Double Fine recently released the formerly Xbox-exclusive game "Keeper" on PlayStation 5, IGN reports. Schafer acknowledged the past year involved "soul-sucking" negotiations and threats, but said the challenge has reignited the team's creative fire.
