Dev's 3-Year Prison Sentence Halts 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 may face a long wait, as the game's development is paused due to its creator serving a three-year prison sentence. While delays in Steam games are not uncommon, often stemming from financial or technical issues, Fortune's Run encounters a unique challenge with its sole developer, Dizzie, unable to work due to incarceration.

Prior to this unexpected halt, Fortune's Run had garnered a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, celebrated for its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, despite being in early access. However, fans will need to be patient for any further updates, as the game's future hangs in uncertainty. Although titles like Half-Life 2 have overcome similar development hurdles, the path forward for Fortune's Run remains unclear.

Dizzie announced their prison sentence on January 14 via a Steam update, revealing they will be unavailable until their release. The nature of the crime was not disclosed, but Dizzie mentioned it occurred before starting Fortune's Run and admitted to being "a very violent person" during that time. This situation echoes recent legal troubles faced by other gaming personalities, 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 who left after recovering from a botched surgery and lost interest in game development. As Dizzie is now the sole developer, the project will be on hold until their release from prison, scheduled for February 2025. The game's Steam page still lists an early access exit target for 2026, but meeting this goal seems unlikely. However, other indie games like Satisfactory have taken over five years to leave early access, suggesting that a three-year delay isn't unprecedented in the indie gaming world.

Dizzie remains optimistic, stating in the update that they intend to complete Fortune's Run post-release. In the meantime, players can continue enjoying the game in its current state. For those seeking alternatives, Steam offers numerous other engaging early access shooters to tide fans over until Dizzie can resume work.

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