‘No One Puts Double Fine Out of Business Except for Me’ — Tim Schafer Explains How He Kept Double Fine Afloat After Leaving Xbox
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine, told Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier that he sensed Xbox’s impending divestiture before it was announced and fought to keep the studio alive. After Xbox shed Double Fine amid a company‑wide restructuring that cut about 3,200 jobs, the developer retained its intellectual property but laid off roughly 25 % of its staff. Schafer described the process as “soul‑sucking” but said the struggle sparked a creative renewal, prompting the team to launch a Kickstarter for a new game and promising a Brutal Legend 2 sequel if the campaign reaches $100 million. The studio also released Keeper, formerly an Xbox exclusive, on PlayStation 5. Schafer emphasized that the fight to stay independent has re‑energized the remaining team and its future outlook today.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Schafer’s turnaround shows a mid‑size studio can survive a major publisher’s exit by leveraging crowdfunding and platform diversification, preserving jobs and IP without corporate backing.
