'No One Puts Double Fine Out of Business Except for Me' — Tim Schafer Explains How He Kept Double Fine Afloat After Leaving Xbox

Tim Schafer, the game designer and founder of Double Fine, a developer behind popular games like Psychonauts, recently discussed how he kept his studio afloat after Xbox divested it this summer. In an interview with Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Schafer admitted that he had a gut feeling something was off before Xbox's official divestment announcement. However, he didn't back down and vowed to fight for his studio.

Some people considered leaving the studio, but Schafer believed it was a "creative awakening" for the rest of the team. He emphasized that no one could put Double Fine out of business except himself, and he was determined to ensure the company's success. Although Double Fine had to lay off a quarter of its staff due to the change, it retained its intellectual property and became fully independent.

The developer recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for its next project, with a goal of $100 million. If they reach this target, they plan to make Brutal Legend 2 as well. Schafer acknowledged that the past year has been challenging for Double Fine, involving soul-sucking inner conflicts, threats of extermination, long negotiations, and difficult tradeoffs with lawyers. Despite these hardships, Schafer found a creative spark that invigorated both himself and the remaining team at Double Fine.

The studio continues to face challenges as it navigates Xbox's restructuring efforts and CEO Asha Sharma's efforts to make the company profitable again. Xbox has undergone significant changes, including layoffs that affected around 3,200 employees. Sharma has been transparent about Xbox's financial state and future plans, recently revealing that the company's next-generation console, Project Helix, will feature a "family of devices."

In related news, Double Fine has also made Virginia, a formerly Xbox-exclusive title, available on PlayStation 5.