There are a number of notable games that many will look back over the year and think of as 2021's strongest releases, and one of those games is Psychonauts 2, the long-awaited follow-up to 2005's equally beloved Psychonauts. The sequel by Double Fine Productions was nominated at Game Awards 2021 for its superb narrative, something that many have praised the entry for. With the success of this latest title still being felt, it looks as though the team is now moving on to work on multiple new projects.
According to a recent report, Double Fine has split up into different factions, with the intention of moving forward with new games. The report doesn't say what these games will be, but the studio is always looking to "explore new ideas," so this could mean that a Psychonauts 3 is unlikely to be on the horizon, but that's just speculation at this stage. Whatever the studio's teams will be working on next will almost certainly be games that fans will look forward to, given the positive reputation of the developer.
As well as the Psychonauts series, Double Fine also made the 2009 heavy metal hack-n-slash-cum-tower-defense game Brutal Legend, which starred Jack Black. In general, the studio, which was established more than 20 years ago, is generally known for trying different things and developing unique IPs, so it seems more than likely that the split teams will be working on something entirely new.
Double Fine began in 2000 as the brainchild of Tim Schafer, who used to work for LucasArts on such classic point-and-click adventure titles as The Secret of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, and Day of the Tentacle, all of which are known for not only their obtuse puzzles, but for their hilarious dialogue and story. As a result, Schafer has something of a reputation as one of the industry's funniest developers, as well as being a strong story writer. Both Psychonauts games are a perpetuation of his, and his studio's, prowess with a strong emphasis on narrative and humor.
As one of the best platforming games of 2021, it's hard to over-emphasize the high praise that Psychonaust 2 received upon release. While many would undoubtedly like a third game in the series, it's more than likely that fans will be getting something new all-together. Whatever the case may be, Double Fine Productions will almost certainly be bringing some interesting games to the community in the future.