Brütal Legend 2 is finally happening – if the game’s developer can raise $100 million: “We’d love to do it, but a game like that requires significant funding”
Double Fine Productions, the studio behind 2009's cult heavy metal game Brütal Legend, has said it would make a sequel starring Jack Black and Ozzy Osbourne, but only if it can raise $100 million through crowdfunding. The pledge came shortly after the independent US studio parted ways with Xbox, and forms part of its ongoing Amnesia Fortnight campaign, a Kickstarter-style fundraiser in which the studio pitches multiple game prototypes for backers to vote on and potentially see developed further.
The studio confirmed on X that it was serious about the offer, noting that a project of that scale would require the entire studio's focus and substantial funding to cover development costs. As of writing, the Amnesia Fortnight campaign had raised $385,867 towards its $400,000 goal, with 28 days remaining, far short of the $100 million target and even the current crowdfunding record of $44 million. Backers pledging $15 or more can vote on which prototypes are made, with $30 and $60 donations granting double and quadruple voting power respectively.
In short
- Double Fine will make Brütal Legend 2 only if fans raise $100 million.
- Pledge tied to studio's Amnesia Fortnight Kickstarter campaign.
- Campaign has raised under $400,000 so far, far short of target.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A sequel could give fans a long-awaited return to a distinctive world and let Double Fine build on the original’s mix of music, action and humour. A very large funding target may also reflect the studio’s view that the project needs substantial resources and broad commitment to justify taking the whole team away from other work.
The case against
A $100 million crowdfunding target is vastly beyond the campaign’s current scale and would ask fans to shoulder unusually high financial risk for a project that is not yet assured. Critics could argue that such a sum would be better secured through conventional financing, or that the studio should focus on smaller, more achievable projects rather than presenting an implausible threshold as a condition for making the sequel.
Explained simply
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure game released in 2009 by Double Fine Productions, an independent US game studio. Set in a fantasy world inspired by heavy metal music, it starred actor and musician Jack Black; musician Ozzy Osbourne also appeared in the game.
Double Fine is asking fans to help fund and choose which of its game ideas it develops through Amnesia Fortnight, a recurring campaign built around short game prototypes. Making a large sequel would require substantial funding and the studio’s full attention, so the proposed sum reflects the scale of the project. Fans can vote on the prototypes by backing the campaign.
Celebrity Entertainment Software Technology