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

Summary

• 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 early access limbo.

Fans of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run will be disappointed to learn that the game may remain in early access for an extended period, as its creator faces a three-year prison sentence. While paused development is not uncommon for Steam games, typically due to financial or technical challenges, Fortune's Run encounters a unique predicament with its sole developer, Dizzie, being incarcerated.

Prior to this unexpected news, Fortune's Run had garnered significant acclaim on Steam, boasting a "Very Positive" rating. Players have lauded its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, even though it's still in early access. However, fans will need to wait for any further updates until Dizzie is released. While other titles like Half-Life 2 have overcome similar development challenges, the future of Fortune's Run remains uncertain.

Dizzie, the creator and lone developer of Fortune's Run, shared the news via a Steam update on January 14. They openly disclosed a three-year prison sentence set to commence in February 2025, which will inevitably halt development. Although Dizzie did not specify the nature of the crime, they admitted to being "a very violent person" during that phase of their life. This incident occurred before the inception of Fortune's Run. This situation echoes recent events involving other gaming figures, such as streamer Johnny Somali, who faced arrest in South Korea. Yet, a game delay due to a developer's incarceration remains a rare occurrence.

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

Originally, Fortune's Run had another team member who departed after recovering from a complicated surgery and losing interest in game development. As a result, Dizzie is the sole developer, and development will cease entirely during their imprisonment. The game's Steam page still lists a target exit from early access by 2026, but this now seems unattainable. However, Satisfactory took over five years to leave early access, suggesting that a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is not unprecedented in the indie game scene.

In the Steam update, Dizzie expressed optimism about completing the game post-release. Until then, fans can continue playing the game in its current state. Meanwhile, numerous other compelling early access shooters on Steam can help fill the gap until Dizzie resumes development.

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