Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Aug 21
Double Fine Regains All IP and Publishing Rights 7 Years After Microsoft Bought It
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Aug 21

Double Fine Regains All IP and Publishing Rights 7 Years After Microsoft Bought It

2 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Aug 21

Summary

  • Tim Schafer said Double Fine now fully owns its intellectual property and publishing rights again, meaning sales of games including Psychonauts 2 now directly support the studio after its Microsoft spin-off.
  • 2019 marked Microsoft’s acquisition of Double Fine; the rights reverted after an Xbox-wide restructuring spun the studio back out, though some store listings still show Microsoft while the transfer is processed.
  • Kiln is getting a major update next week with new maps and game modes, alongside a price cut aimed at boosting support and extending the studio’s financial runway.
  • Amnesia Fortnight is also returning as a live game jam tied to a Kickstarter, which Schafer said is meant to fund one small project and give the studio stability after last month’s layoffs.

Insights

With Double Fine and Compulsion Games leaving Xbox, is Microsoft quietly abandoning its mid-tier studio strategy to cut costs?
Double Fine celebrates its independence, but do immediate layoffs and a Kickstarter campaign signal a desperate fight for survival?