Steam Game Dev Imprisoned, Project Paused

Summary

• Development of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run has been halted due to the creator's three-year prison sentence.
• The game remains in early access indefinitely.

Fans of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run will be disappointed to learn the game's development is indefinitely paused. While development delays on Steam are common, usually stemming from financial or technical issues, Fortune's Run faces a unique challenge: its sole developer is serving a three-year prison sentence.

Before this news, Fortune's Run enjoyed considerable success on Steam, boasting a "Very Positive" rating and praise for its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, despite being in early access. However, future updates are now significantly delayed. While many games have overcome prolonged development hurdles, Fortune's Run's future is uncertain.

On January 14th, the game's creator and sole developer, Dizzie, announced their three-year prison sentence in a Steam update. Dizzie revealed the crime predated Fortune's Run's development and acknowledged a violent past. While not unprecedented in the gaming industry, a prison sentence causing a game delay is unusual.

Progress on Fortune's Run Halted Until Developer's Release From Prison

Fortune's Run initially had a second team member, but they departed after recovering from surgery and losing interest in game development. Therefore, Dizzie is the sole developer, resulting in a complete development halt during their imprisonment, beginning February 2025. The game's Steam page still targets a 2026 release, but this is highly unlikely. However, considering some indie games spend five years or more in early access, a three-year delay isn't unheard of.

Dizzie expressed confidence in completing the game upon release from prison. The current early access build remains playable, and numerous other early access shooters on Steam offer alternatives in the interim.