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Microsoft Drops Psychonauts 30 Mar, 2004, 18:58 / 33 comments

By Jake


Sigh. According to IGN Xbox, Microsoft Game Studios has "cut its ties with Tim Schafer and his upcoming platformer Psychonauts." Here's what Microsoft told IGN about it:
"Microsoft Game Studios has made the decision to end its publishing agreement with DoubleFine for the upcoming Xbox game 'Psychonauts.' Microsoft Game Studios believes in the vision of the title and would like to see the game on Xbox. Microsoft is supporting Tim Schafer and DoubleFine in their search for a new publisher."
So that doesn't sound too bad, and we're pretty sure Double Fine will find a new publisher to pick up the title, but its never exciting to hear news like this. The IGN report says Double Fine is still definitely planning on having an E3 presence including a playable demo of the game, so Mojo will definitely have some good Psychonauts coverage come May.

[In other news, my email seems to be broken. If for some reason you need to bug me, try this address.]
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33 Comments

  • PirateKingChris on 31 Mar, 2004, 20:56…
    *gags, coughs up blood, and collapses in a heap, with his eyes rolling into the back of his head*
  • Guyfrench Threepwood on 31 Mar, 2004, 17:25…
    Good news from Lucasarts are really coming fast these days ! :-(
  • The Ghost of Xmas Past on 31 Mar, 2004, 12:25…
    Lets hope its just a early Aprils Fools Joke
  • glottis42 on 31 Mar, 2004, 10:56…
    What if the publisher to pick up Psychonauts was LucasArts??

    Obviously this would never happen...but it start to heal the damage from SNM2.
  • spaceship789 on 31 Mar, 2004, 09:20…
    Since grim is a classic, I guess Tim wanted to make another classic, and clearly has a good game on his hands.

    But will is be allowed to become a classic if released on Xbox alone?

    Sony has said that since its installed base is so large that it wants to increase the planned lifespan of the PS2 to 10 years.

    Any (no microsoft publisher) would do the obvious thing and get a PS2 port in the pipeline, even if it takes a (yet another) year to do.

    Maybe this is why microsoft are "helping" doublefine look for a new publisher...
  • ThunderPeel2001 on 01 Apr, 2004, 11:16…
    holy crap!! --i mean, uhh, phew!
  • ThunderPeel2001 on 31 Mar, 2004, 09:01…
    Holy Crap!!!
  • csenosiain on 31 Mar, 2004, 08:47…
    This reminds me: OH TIM! why has though forsaken us PC users?
  • nahmed on 31 Mar, 2004, 06:25…
    I wonder what Mojo will cover IF Psychonauts gets cancelled.

    Hopefully it will be released for XBOX and then eventually for PC.
  • deadworm222 on 31 Mar, 2004, 04:13…
    This shocked me more than the cancellation of Sam and Max 2.
  • Metallus on 31 Mar, 2004, 02:44…
    Buh, I hope they get a new publisher but I hope it doesn't end up being exclusive to another console, because I'm not paying for one.
  • The_Petrified_Monkey on 31 Mar, 2004, 05:15…
    I don't think there is any doubt they will get another publisher. I just hope Tim can strike a deal with one who can market the game properly and give it the big push it (presumably) deserves.

    The chance of it being ported to another console...? Very slim! I mean, its been specifically in development for the Hexbox for a good few years now so they'd have to undo a lot of their work to get it running on the PS2 and alter a LOT of the processes to get the 'Cube to match the Hexbox version.

    A PC port...? Not out of the question but then again, PC platformers are rarer now than ever (apart from PoP which doesn't really count)

    :o) G
  • RumRogerz on 31 Mar, 2004, 02:44…
    Its shit like this that turns me off from Video Games

    And LucasArts still sucks ass.
  • Kingzjester on 31 Mar, 2004, 14:41…
    I hear that expression a lot, but I have yet to unerstand it. How exactly does one suck ass? Sounds quite physiologically impossible.
  • CaliMonk on 31 Mar, 2004, 02:42…
    Boy am i glad i decided to not get a Xbox, i hate the whole Xbox the only reason i was considering was due to Psychonauts.

    * CaliMonk pets his Gamecube

    I'd wish Tim would just release it for the cube.. oh well
  • Bobo Donkey? on 31 Mar, 2004, 07:21…
    Me too. I wish the same thing.
  • Haggis on 01 Apr, 2004, 06:38…
    Me three.
  • JBRAA on 31 Mar, 2004, 01:29…
    How did Double Fine deserve this?
  • jp-30 on 31 Mar, 2004, 01:13…
    Screw the xbox. Port it to PC, Tim, there's a good lad.
  • Kingzjester on 30 Mar, 2004, 22:10…
    Is nothing holy?!?!?
  • Celemar on 30 Mar, 2004, 22:47…
    It was Microsoft employees who complained about the statue's penis, right? So maybe you can put it back again.

    Just a thought.
  • Celemar on 30 Mar, 2004, 22:48…
    On the Church of Tim site, I mean.
  • Kingzjester on 31 Mar, 2004, 14:39…
    Actually, Jon doesn't work for Microsoft any more... I should've re-dicked the statue when he left. ¬ ¬


    I guess it is an issue of my unadulterated laziness.
  • telarium on 30 Mar, 2004, 21:43…
    Somehow I would guess that this has more to do with the title being in development for so long rather than it being a marketing issue. We were told at E3 2002 the game was going to have a Q2 2003 release, but last I heard the date was now estimated to be Q4 2004.

    But that's just pure speculation on my part. I really hope it gets published. Otherwise, I've officially lost all interest in gaming.
  • Tal on 30 Mar, 2004, 21:12…
    In other news: Gaming Industry Reveals Plans to Eliminate Great Gaming; Milk Cows
  • MonkeyMug on 30 Mar, 2004, 20:46…
    If they don't find a publisher I will die. I wants my Psychonauts!
  • netmonkey on 30 Mar, 2004, 20:26…
    Without freaking out:
    Hmm... I wonder who's going to publish Psychonauts now. LucasArts would, but that would be kind of ironic or something...

    With freaking out:
    WTF! PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY MY PSYCHONAUTS! MY XBOX IS JUST WATING A WAY WITHOUT IT! :'(
  • The_Petrified_Monkey on 31 Mar, 2004, 05:12…
    I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking along the same lines... Would Lucasarts consider publishing this game!? If so, that would probably force me to buy another "Lucasarts" game, even tho I promised the robot devil I wouldn't...

    As much as I would love to say my Hexbox is gathering dust, it is and it isn't... I mean, I'm using it a lot (along side my 'Cube) but gawd, doesn't that black mudder funkster attract dust!!!
  • csenosiain on 30 Mar, 2004, 19:59…
    Hmm, I'm beginning to be reminded of "Blame Canada" from the South Park movie.


    BLAME LUCASARTS, BLAME LUCASAAAARTS!




    Hope it'll still get published, this game is one of the reasons I bought an XBOX
  • remixor on 30 Mar, 2004, 19:39…
    Those pesky marketplace realities and underlying economic considerations!
  • QueZTone on 30 Mar, 2004, 19:25…
    though i bet it woulda sell better with Microsoft's name on it :/
  • Remi O on 30 Mar, 2004, 19:21…
    Not really that horribly, bad news. I don't see them having a problem finding a publisher for this game.
  • Sheriff Gringo on 30 Mar, 2004, 19:14…
    I blame Mike Nelson.