(Image credit: No More Robots)
The anticipated sequel to Hypnospace Outlaw, renowned as one of the premier adventure games in recent times, has faced cancellation. Earlier today, creator Jay Tholen revealed this decision, announcing that Dreamsettler, planned as an exploration of the quirky world established by Hypnospace Outlaw and its spin-off Slayers X, would not come to fruition. Tholen clarified that the decision was not driven by the publisher, No More Robots, but rather by the development team itself.
Tholen elaborated on his unique approach to game design, emphasizing that he never bases his creations on predefined documents. Instead, he relies on improvisation: “I have to improvise, like in Hypnospace, like I’m pretending to be a character and making stuff… Things bloom from other things and it evolves into a complete, cohesive entity eventually… It’s akin to a tree’s growth.” He admitted the scope of the project had exceeded expectations, becoming overly intricate — “so fancy” that one might liken it to a usable operating system.
Tholen expressed deep regret to those eagerly awaiting the game, acknowledging, “I’m so sorry to everyone who’s waiting for this game and expecting a big, great game. This encompasses almost five years of my life. This was the significant project I had so many aspirations for… Perhaps burnout played a part all along.” Despite the setback, Tholen and his team are exploring ways to disseminate the work they accomplished, possibly by releasing the soundtrack or documenting their journey in a blog post. One idea was to develop a brief tour game to showcase their creations, but practical and financial constraints halted this notion.
Hypnospace Outlaw exquisitely encapsulated the essence of maneuvering through 1990s-era internet spaces, inviting players to embody enforcers tasked with policing the whimsical digital frontier. Dreamsettler aimed to continue this narrative, mirroring the internet environment of the early 2000s. A glimpse of its design can be seen on its Steam page.
Meanwhile, fans eager for fresh experiences can delve into upcoming indie titles slated for 2025 and beyond. Keep an eye out for further updates and explorations within the indie gaming realm by connecting with their community platform.