It's still kind of wild that, after 15+ years, the beloved Psychonauts will finally be receiving its sequel following its successful crowdfunding campaign in 2016. Or at least it should be. Psychonauts 2 has lacked a solid release date, with it currently only being listed as coming out in 2021. And with how little information has been shared about the game (the last piece of gameplay footage was from August 2020), some fans seem to be getting worried about another potential delay.
One somewhat irate fan, in response to a Tweet on studio Double Fine's Twitter, asked where Psychonauts 2 is, highlighting how, even after Double Fine was bought out by Microsoft in 2019, it wasn't able to release the game in 2020. Surprisingly, director Tim Schafer responded, succinctly saying that the reason the game's taking so long is because the developers are making sure it's good. Double Fine's Twitter added that, while there is still no exact date, the game is coming out this year.
It's somewhat understandable for fans to be anxious. This is a sequel years in the making and the numerous delays have been rather disappointing. But, it's important to remember that development was likely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which is still causing major delays within the industry. Several high-profile titles have already had to be pushed back to later in the year, like Deathloop, or into 2022, like Gotham Knights.
Furthermore, Schafer did provide an update back in December, where he said that the game was in the final stretch of development, which more or less confirms that it's nearly complete and will likely meet its 2021 target. He added that he was also aiming to avoid enforcing crunch, something that has been routinely criticized by the general public and members of the press whenever it's reported on.
Despite the Microsoft buyout, Psychonauts 2 will still release for multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 4. Just like its predecessor, it will be a 3D platformer and, as protagonist Raz, players will be able to use a variety of psychic powers, such as telekinesis and levitation, as they delve into and explore peoples' minds.
The original game was praised for its creativity, comedic writing, and cast of characters, with some labelling it as one of the best games ever made. Despite the strong critical reception, it was deemed a commercial failure when it first launched, but it performed much more strongly upon being re-released digitally.
Psychonauts 2 is scheduled to release in 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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