{
  "id": 2434995,
  "title": "The newly independent Psychonauts dev now earns all the revenue when you buy games it made under Xbox: 'Buying any of our games helps support the studio'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/the-newly-independent-psychonauts-dev-now-earns-all-the-revenue-when",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T21:05:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-newly-independent-psychonauts-dev-now-earns-all-the-revenue-when-you-buy-games-it-made-under-xbox-buying-any-of-our-games-helps-support-the-studio/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Double Fine, formerly part of Xbox, has become an independent studio following its departure from Microsoft earlier this year. The studio now holds full publishing rights to the games it developed under Xbox and directly earns all revenue from their sales, CEO Tim Schafer announced on the Kinda Funny podcast. Although Steam still lists Xbox Game Studios as the publisher for games such as Psychonauts 2 and Keeper, this is due to the processing time involved, Schafer explained. When consumers purchase these games, their support directly contributes to the studio's financial stability. Later this month, Double Fine will initiate a Kickstarter campaign for its annual Amnesia Fortnight game jam, the origin of previous titles like Costume Quest and Stacking. The campaign, which will be documented in a film, allows backers to influence which concept is developed into a smaller game. Schafer stated that the Kickstarter funds and sales of their games will provide the studio with ample financial resources as it pitches other projects to publishers. In March, Double Fine reduced its workforce by 23 members to achieve a sustainable size. This decision came shortly after Microsoft granted the studio independence amidst a major restructuring at Xbox and significant layoffs. Compulsion Games, another studio Microsoft divested from, has also secured full publishing rights for its games, ensuring that buyers' support will directly aid the studio in its future endeavors.",
  "summary": "It also has a new Kickstarter campaign set to kickoff later this month.",
  "key_points": [
    "Double Fine, formerly Xbox, now independent studio with full publishing rights",
    "Revenue from games like Psychonauts 2 directly supports studio",
    "Upcoming Kickstarter campaign funds future projects and Amnesia Fortnight jam"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}