Work on Steam FPS Game Paused Because Dev is Going to Prison for 3 Years

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 creative gameplay, despite being in early access. However, all updates are now on hold. While many games have overcome prolonged development hurdles, Fortune's Run's future is uncertain.

The creator and sole developer, Dizzie, announced the three-year sentence in a January 14th Steam update. Dizzie revealed the crime predates Fortune's Run's development and that they were "a very violent person" during that time. While the specifics remain undisclosed, this situation is unusual in game development. Though other gaming personalities have faced legal issues recently, a prison sentence directly halting game development is rare.

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

Fortune's Run initially had a second team member, but they departed the project following a botched surgery and disinterest in further game development. This leaves Dizzie as the sole developer, resulting in a complete development pause during their imprisonment, beginning February 2025. The game's Steam page still targets a 2026 release, a goal now highly improbable. However, given the precedent of games like Satisfactory spending over five years in early access, a three-year delay wouldn't be unprecedented.

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 while awaiting Fortune's Run's return.