Ron Gilbert halts RPG project citing insufficient support and funding

Industry icon Ron Gilbert has halted work on his anticipated RPG project, initially described as blending elements of "classic Zelda, Diablo, and Thimbleweed Park." The announcement came through a conversation with Ars Technica, where Gilbert detailed the challenges faced during its development. Key issues included limited manpower, with only a trio working on the project, and insufficient financial backing.

Gilbert highlighted financial and temporal constraints, stating the project's expansive scope would require either a decade-long personal commitment or sufficient funds to recruit necessary talent and resources. Attempts to secure publisher backing were unsuccessful, as he described the offers received as unfavorable.

He expressed concern over the industry's focus on high financial returns, noting publishers sidestep retro-inspired pixelated games, like his, due to their lack of mass market appeal. Gilbert mentioned these proposals were misaligned with the necessary support for the game's development.

Reflecting on his beginnings, Gilbert compared past approaches with current analytical methods employed by publishers. He critiqued how reliance on profit forecasts leads to homogenous game releases, contrasting this with past practices characterized by greater experimental freedom.

Despite these challenges, Gilbert praised the indie gaming scene for its embrace of innately creative and unconventional projects free from the constraints of major publishers.

The RPG, first introduced to the public in 2024, had entered its development phase for several months with expectations of a release either later that year or in early 2025, before its unfortunate cancellation.