Dev's 3-Year Prison Sentence Pauses Steam FPS Game Development

Summary

• Development of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run has been halted due to the creator's 3-year prison sentence.
• The game is now in early access limbo.

Fans of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run will be disappointed to learn that the game may remain in early access for an extended period, as the creator, Dizzie, faces a three-year prison sentence. While news of paused development is not uncommon for Steam games, typically due to financial or technical challenges, Fortune's Run's situation is unique, with its sole developer unable to continue work due to incarceration.

Before this unexpected news, Fortune's Run had garnered significant success on Steam, boasting a "Very Positive" rating. Players have lauded its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, even though it's still in early access. However, fans will have to wait for any further updates until Dizzie's release. While games like Half-Life 2 have overcome prolonged development challenges, the future of Fortune's Run remains uncertain.

Dizzie, the creator and lone developer of Fortune's Run, shared the news through a Steam update on January 14. They disclosed a three-year prison sentence, set to begin in February 2025, which will interrupt development until their release. Although Dizzie did not specify the nature of the crime, they admitted to being "a very violent person" during that phase of their life. This situation echoes recent events in the gaming community, such as streamer Johnny Somali's arrest in South Korea, though a game delay due to a prison sentence is rare.

Progress on Fortune's Run Won't Continue Until Developer Is Released From Prison

Originally, Fortune's Run had another team member, but they departed after recovering from a botched surgery and lost interest in game development. Consequently, Dizzie is now the only person working on the project, leading to a complete halt in development during their incarceration. The game's Steam page still targets an early access exit by 2026, but this goal seems unattainable now. However, other indie games like Satisfactory have taken over five years to leave early access, suggesting that a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is not unprecedented.

In the Steam update, Dizzie expressed optimism about completing the game post-release. Until then, players can continue enjoying the game in its current state. There are also numerous excellent early access shooters on Steam to tide fans over until Dizzie can resume work on Fortune's Run.

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