Updated
Updated · Polygon · Aug 18
Order of the Sinking Star Sets Oct. 8 Release, Confirms Full Credits After Demo Dispute
Updated
Updated · Polygon · Aug 18

Order of the Sinking Star Sets Oct. 8 Release, Confirms Full Credits After Demo Dispute

3 articles · Updated · Polygon · Aug 18

Summary

  • Oct. 8 is the launch date for Order of the Sinking Star on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC, putting Jonathan Blow’s puzzle game into the crowded fall release slate.
  • Thekla and Blow also moved to settle a credits controversy, saying the final game will include full in-game credits for contributors, plus listings on MobyGames and in press materials.
  • The dispute flared after a Switch 2 demo showed Mirror Isles creator Alan Hazelden’s name on an in-game slab while a later Steam Next Fest demo did not, prompting questions about how licensed-game developers would be acknowledged.
  • Blow said the missing credit was tied to temporary assets and teased that the credits will appear in a secretive, unconventional format, while the game itself has a clear ending despite his claim that full completion can take 500-plus hours.

Insights

With over 500 hours of gameplay, can a minimalist story sustain players through such a massive, mechanically dense puzzle universe?
How does a custom-built engine handle a massive combinatoric explosion of puzzles without breaking the game's promise of approachability?
Will combining multiple games' worth of mechanics create a puzzle masterpiece, or an overwhelming web of complexity for casual players?