Xbox’s Double Fine is working on “multiple games” in addition to Keeper, says studio head Tim Schafer — but none of them are Brutal Legend 2

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Double Fine Productions, during their Xbox Day 1 at Gamescom 2025 stream on Wednesday, confirmed that while they are busy with the upcoming game Keeper (their latest title since the release of Psychonauts 2 in 2021), they have not been resting on their laurels. In fact, Tim Schafer, the studio head, jokingly revealed that there are indeed other games in development at Double Fine Productions, all of which are new intellectual properties (IP).

In another part of the production, Schafer mentioned that Keeper is a realization of Director Lee Petty’s unique vision. With years of experience under his belt at Double Fine, Petty served as the art director for Brutal Legend and Broken Age, and contributed to the artwork of numerous other projects.

Keeper was initially unveiled during the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this year, with an October release date confirmed. The game centers around a sentient lighthouse that journeys through a peculiar world alongside a bird.

Schafer further shared that Petty drew a significant amount of inspiration from going on lengthy hikes during the pandemic, appreciating how nature persisted amidst the challenges facing humanity.

“Petty is an eccentric individual with eclectic preferences, who was influenced by The Dark Crystal, Cronenberg films, and surrealist painters during his upbringing,” Schafer elucidates. “He combined these elements to create something that reflects the tranquility of nature yet maintains a touch of the bizarre, and this essence can be seen in the game.

More new IP is great, but there’s one specific sequel I would like to see

As a researcher, I can’t help but express my eagerness to explore the unique world of Keeper. The fact that it’s a narrative without dialogue intrigues me greatly, and Double Fine’s innovative approach to storytelling is truly fascinating.

I was also pleased to learn that Double Fine continues to work on multiple games. While they did mention this in the aftermath of Psychonauts 2’s release, four years can bring about significant changes, so it’s heartening to see they’re still going strong.

Given their history, it’s not surprising that Double Fine is focusing on new IP rather than sequels right now. Psychonauts 2 was a remarkable achievement (and my game of the year for 2021), but its development was quite challenging as documented in a full-length documentary.

However, if I were to pick one sequel I’d love to see, it would be Brutal Legend 2. The original game was a delightful blend of concepts, and I’d welcome another opportunity for the team to explore those ideas further. Plus, collaborating with Jack Black again would be an added bonus!

That being said, I’m primarily excited about the new IPs that Double Fine is working on. Their creative energy is invaluable, not just for Xbox but for the gaming industry as a whole, especially amidst current layoffs and studio closures.

Keeper is set to debut on October 17, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (Steam and Xbox PC). Like all Xbox first-party games, it’ll be available day one in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

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2025-08-21 14:09