Millionaire Fan Fully Funds Thimbleweed Park 2, Plans 2028 Release
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
After nine years, the acclaimed point-and-click adventure game Thimbleweed Park is getting a sequel, entirely funded by a single wealthy fan. Developer Ron Gilbert, the legendary creator behind the Monkey Island series, revealed in a Bloomberg interview that he had previously sworn off working with traditional publishers due to unfavorable profit-sharing terms. When development for the new project hit a funding wall, a friend introduced Gilbert to this ultra-wealthy player who shared his passion for adventure games. The two parties quickly reached a deal: the fan would cover the entire development budget with a fair revenue-sharing agreement.
Key Points
- Developer Ron Gilbert (creator of Monkey Island) confirmed Thimbleweed Park 2 is officially in development, backed by a billionaire fan
- The fan agreed to fund the full two-year development budget, with the game targeted for a 2028 release
- The original Thimbleweed Park cost approximately $1.1 million (about HK$8.6 million) to develop
- Gilbert rejected both traditional publishers and Kickstarter crowdfunding due to poor experiences with profit extraction
- Point-and-click adventure games attract a niche but highly loyal player base with extended sales lifecycles
- The first game continues generating revenue nearly a decade after its 2017 launch
Why It Matters
This unconventional funding model highlights how passionate wealthy gamers can directly support niche genres that mainstream publishers consider commercially risky. For Hong Kong players, the 2028 release offers hope that smaller game studios can pursue creative projects without compromising their vision to satisfy profit-driven publishers.
This unconventional funding model highlights how passionate wealthy gamers can directly support niche genres that mainstream publishers consider commercially risky. For Hong Kong players, the 2028 release offers hope that smaller game studios can pursue creative projects without compromising their vision to satisfy profit-driven publishers.