Double Fine founder Tim Schafer says he no longer understands the economics of game development, citing four years of industry-wide layoffs and studio closures despite continued game sales and revenue. He describes the industry as increasingly volatile for both AAA and indie developers, though he remains committed to keeping Double Fine operational following its separation from Xbox.
Double Fine founder Tim Schafer says he doesn't understand why the games industry hasn't recovered after four years of layoffs, suspecting greed is behind the downturn despite continued game sales and revenue. After Microsoft's closure threat, Schafer fought to keep Double Fine independent, emphasizing the studio's unique creative values and the industry's need to provide job security for developers who are passionate about making games.