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 3-year prison sentence.
• The game is now in early access limbo.

Fans of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run will be disappointed to learn that the game may be stuck in early access for an extended period. The game's creator, known as Dizzie, has been sentenced to three years in prison, which will halt development until their release. While delays in Steam games are common, often due to financial or technical issues, Fortune's Run faces a unique challenge with its sole developer unable to work due to incarceration.

Before this unexpected news, Fortune's Run had garnered significant attention on Steam, earning a "Very Positive" rating. Players appreciated its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, even in its early access phase. However, fans will have to wait longer for any new updates. Although games like Half-Life 2 have successfully navigated development challenges, the future of Fortune's Run remains uncertain.

Dizzie announced their prison sentence in a Steam update on January 14, explaining that the crime occurred before they began working on Fortune's Run. They described themselves as having been "a very violent person" during that time. This situation is not isolated to Dizzie; other figures in the gaming community, such as streamer Johnny Somali, have also faced legal issues recently. However, a game delay due to a prison sentence is quite unusual.

Progress on Fortune's Run Won't Continue Until Developer Is Released From Prison

Fortune's Run initially had a second team member, but they left the project after recovering from a botched surgery and lost interest in game development. As a result, Dizzie is the sole developer, and the game's development will pause completely during their three-year sentence, starting in February 2025. Although the Steam page still lists an early access exit target of 2026, meeting this goal now seems unlikely. However, other indie games like Satisfactory have taken over five years to leave early access, suggesting that a three-year delay for Fortune's Run is not unprecedented in the indie game scene.

In their update, Dizzie expressed optimism about completing the game post-release. Until then, fans can continue playing the current version of Fortune's Run. There are numerous other early access shooters on Steam that may help fill the gap until Dizzie can resume work on the game.

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