The co-founder of Raw Fury has revived Kingdom: Two Crowns developer Stumpysquid and is currently looking for partners and investors to support a new game venture

Gordon Van Dyke, co-founder of the Swedish indie publishing giant Raw Fury, has announced the revival of Stumpysquid, the original developer behind the popular game Kingdom: Two Crowns. Though initially absorbed by Raw Fury, Van Dyke kept control of Stumpysquid following Raw Fury's acquisition by Altor. He parted ways with Raw Fury in March.

Stumpysquid is actively searching for collaborators and financiers to support a new game, which is described as a "micro-strategy survival game." This project aims to build upon the core design features of Kingdom Two Crowns while introducing innovative mechanics, themes, and systems to create a fresh gaming experience.

This upcoming venture promises fans of Kingdom Two Crowns a game that, while familiar, confidently distinguishes itself with new elements.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Van Dyke elaborated on the game's concept that he has pondered since 2013 after viewing season three of The Walking Dead. He was intrigued by the idea of converting a prison into a habitable space within the game world. "There’s a small clue there about the new game. I can promise it doesn’t have zombies, but you will be building bases to survive in some very cool places," he commented, hinting at the setting.

The reestablished studio comprises four members, with plans to expand by "two or three more" once investment is secured. However, the team will remain deliberately compact. Notably, Thomas van den Berg, creator of the Kingdom series, is not part of the team, although Van Dyke maintains a strong friendship with him. Van Dyke has shared the new game's design concepts with van den Berg, whose insightful feedback was promptly integrated.

The studio plans to publish the game independently, seeking €1.8 million for both its development and release. Van Dyke mentioned ongoing discussions that began as preliminary pitches and are now advancing toward formal negotiations. He acknowledged the privilege of having initial meetings but stressed the importance of a compelling pitch.

He noted that although the game concept has been well-received, demonstrating a playable version has been crucial for securing commitments. A prototype was quickly developed in three weeks, significantly advancing discussions.

Van Dyke clarified that he is not collaborating with Raw Fury but supports them from afar. He aims to focus on game creation by establishing an independent studio with friends, drawing on the micro-strategy methodologies he helped establish with the Kingdom series.

Jonas Antonsson, another founding member of Raw Fury, announced his departure last month, with CEO Pim Holfve now at the helm. Alongside Van Dyke, COO Iris Andresdottir also exited the company in March. Raw Fury's recent success includes Blue Prince, which attracted two million players and sold nearly 600,000 digital copies on Steam by September.