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 disheartened to learn that the game may remain in early access for an extended period, as its sole developer, Dizzie, faces a three-year prison sentence. While delays in Steam game development are not uncommon, they are typically caused by financial difficulties or technical challenges. The unique situation of Fortune's Run stems from the developer's incarceration, halting all progress until their release.

Prior to this unexpected news, Fortune's Run had garnered a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with players applauding its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, despite still being in early access. With development now on hold, fans will have to wait longer for updates. While other games like Half-Life 2 have overcome development hurdles in the past, the future of Fortune's Run remains uncertain.

Dizzie, the creator and lone developer, disclosed their situation in a Steam update on January 14, stating they had been sentenced to three years in prison. Although the specific crime was not mentioned, Dizzie admitted to being "a very violent person" during that period of their life, prior to starting work on Fortune's Run. This case is not isolated, as other gaming personalities like streamer Johnny Somali have also faced legal issues recently, though delays due to prison sentences are rare.

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

Fortune's Run initially had another team member who left after recovering from a botched surgery and losing interest in game development. With Dizzie as the only developer, the project will be paused entirely during their three-year sentence, starting in February 2025. The game's Steam page still lists an early access exit target of 2026, but meeting this goal now seems unlikely. However, other indie games like Satisfactory have taken over five years to leave early access, so a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is not unprecedented.

Dizzie remains optimistic about completing the game upon their release and encourages fans to continue enjoying the current version of Fortune's Run. In the meantime, there are numerous excellent early access shooters available on Steam that can help fill the gap until Dizzie can resume work on the game.

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