Yacht Club has characterized the situation as "make-or-break" for their studio following the postponement of Mina the Hollower

The development studio Yacht Club Games has acknowledged that the fate of the company is heavily reliant on its upcoming title, Mina the Hollower. The firm's future hinges on the game’s success. Although set for an October release, the launch was delayed to allow additional time for development, intended to elevate the game's chance for success. The project is described as being in the final stages.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Sean Velasco, the studio's co-founder and head, confirmed the gravity of the situation by stating, "It's make-or-break for sure.” The studio is eyeing key sales targets for the game, hoping to sell at least 200,000 copies while aiming for 500,000 to achieve stability. Sales lower than 100,000 copies would be unfavorable.

The report highlighted potential downsizing and the need for new funding if the game doesn't perform well. Mina the Hollower is the company's new intellectual property following the success of their Shovel Knight series. It has been under development for over six years. A Kickstarter campaign in 2022 supported it with $1.2 million, aiming for a December 2023 release. However, first-time project leader Alec Faulkner, who also designed the game, struggled with the expanded scope, acknowledging his unsuitability for the role.

To manage expenditures, Yacht Club is transitioning to a remote setup, focusing on one project at a time. This shift follows halting another project—a 3D Shovel Knight game—so they can finish Mina the Hollower.

Nick Wozniak, cofounder of Yacht Club, expressed a desire to launch new games every few years rather than the lengthy delays experienced in the past. The studio has not released a new game in several years.

Founded in 2011, Yacht Club Games gained fame with its retro-inspired platformer Shovel Knight in 2014. By 2019, the game had sold over 2.65 million copies and numerous expansions. As per a 2019 interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the studio announced plans to shift away from Shovel Knight to pursue other adventures.