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

Summary

• The 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 an 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 is set to serve a three-year prison sentence. While paused development is not uncommon for Steam games, the reasons behind these delays typically involve financial constraints or technical challenges. In contrast, Fortune's Run faces a unique predicament with its sole developer, Dizzie, unable to continue working due to incarceration.

Prior to this unexpected news, Fortune's Run had garnered considerable success on Steam. It boasts a "Very Positive" rating, with players commending its nostalgic art style and inventive gameplay, despite being in early access. However, fans will now have to wait longer for any further updates. Historical examples, such as Half-Life 2, demonstrate that games can survive extended development delays, offering hope that Fortune's Run may still see completion, though its future remains uncertain.

Dizzie, the creator and lone developer of Fortune's Run, disclosed the news of their three-year prison sentence in a Steam update on January 14. They were transparent about the situation, stating that the crime, which occurred before the development of Fortune's Run, was linked to a period in their life when they were "a very violent person." This situation places Fortune's Run in a rare category, as delays due to a developer's imprisonment are unusual. It's noteworthy that other gaming figures, like streamer Johnny Somali, have recently faced legal issues, though none directly impacted game development as this case does.

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

Originally, Fortune's Run had another team member who left the project after recovering from a botched surgery and subsequently lost interest in game development. With Dizzie now the only person working on the game, development will come to a complete halt during their sentence, which is set to begin in February 2025. The game's Steam page still targets an early access exit by 2026, but meeting this goal seems highly unlikely. However, Satisfactory took over five years to leave early access, so a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is not unprecedented within the indie gaming scene.

Dizzie expressed optimism in their post, stating they should be able to finish the game once released from prison. In the meantime, fans can continue playing the game in its current state, and there are numerous other compelling early access shooters on Steam to enjoy while awaiting further developments on Fortune's Run.

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