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

Summary

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

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

Prior to the announcement of Dizzie's prison sentence, Fortune's Run had garnered considerable success on Steam. It boasts a "Very Positive" rating, with many players appreciating its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, despite being in early access. However, fans will now have to wait longer for any updates. While other titles like Half-Life 2 have overcome development hurdles in the past, the future of Fortune's Run remains uncertain.

Dizzie disclosed their prison sentence in a Steam update on January 14, explaining that the crime occurred before they began working on Fortune's Run. They admitted to being "a very violent person" during that time but did not specify the nature of the crime. Dizzie's situation is part of a recent trend of video game personalities facing legal issues, such as streamer Johnny Somali's arrest in South Korea. However, a game delay due to a prison sentence is quite rare.

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

Fortune's Run initially had another team member who left the project after a botched surgery recovery, deciding they were "no longer interested in game development." As a result, Dizzie is the sole developer, and the game's development will pause completely while they serve their sentence, which begins in February 2025. The game's Steam page still targets an exit from early access by 2026, but meeting this goal now seems unlikely. However, Satisfactory took over five years to leave early access, suggesting that a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is within the realm of possibility for indie games.

In the Steam update, Dizzie expressed optimism about completing the game upon their release from prison. In the meantime, fans can continue playing the game in its current state. There are also numerous other excellent early access shooters on Steam that can help fill the gap until Dizzie can resume development.

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