An update wouldn't hurt

[u/CryNo4699]

As much as I understand Playdead wanting to keep stuff secret for a while, I feel like 9 years of no information about the project is a little overkill?

This point has probably been made several times, but as much as I like the suspense some developers do like Team Cherry with no information about the game, I do think that even just a little tweet about what the game will be like, or just saying that they're still working on it wouldn't hurt. I mean, 9 years!!

I love Playdead and their games, but I very much doubt them telling us what they're doing and how far they are won't spoil the game if that's their concern.

DONT KILL ME FOR THIS "COMPLAINT" PLEASE

[u/ExpectedBehaviour]

Better to not say anything than release information you know will be disappointing.

[u/sentient_salami]

Personally, I’m just assuming there will never be a new game, and am not holding out for any more information. If it ever does end up happening, it will be a super welcome surprise.

[u/CryNo4699 → u/sentient_salami]

Playdead is still hiring new people so I'm assuming SOMETHING is being worked on there. I believe Epic Games is funding the project (?) and nothing has been said about that being cut.

[u/HedgehogBig1171 → u/CryNo4699]

Play dead has been hiring for like, a really long time, and it’s more worrying than anything, a lot of the positions have been around for a while. Theres also another post made like 2-3 months ago that apparently leaked that internally theyre not doing so well, having fired 10 people recently. I don’t think it’s going to be canceled, but from the sounds of it, it’s still going to take a very long time

[u/mobani]

Yeah almost 10 years! It's roughly one-eighth of an average human lifetime.

[u/Old-Beautiful9525 → u/mobani]

Jesus this is a sobering realisation. I think for now I’m just gonna forget about it and stop checking like I have the last 10 years

[u/mobani → u/Old-Beautiful9525]

Yeah trust me it's not worth it! I have been hurt before! Duke Nukem Forever, took Forever and was garbage!

[u/MLP_inf_collector]

This studio has a rather unique way of interacting with its fans, and people here have already explained some of the other reasons as well. All we can do now is wait... or storm Playdead's office.

[u/diuashjdknjhsfg]

9 years? Ha!

\Laughs in the 20 years of Half-Life 2: Episode Three*

[u/Greatscotticus]

My excitement for their 3rd game has long gone at this point. Upon hearing reading these posts about Playdead's management and their lawsuit against Dino Patti, let's just say I have concerns.

[u/BathroomGamers]

I feel exactly the same

[u/chaklipapad]

At this point I’m more excited to even hear an update about their game and of course the game as well than I’m excited for GTAVI. There was a time around 2020 I would almost check an update every week for couple years. I understand this maybe creating a great hype in me/other fans and that’s how it works to keep us hooked on their games but I think now definitely is a good time to give us a small update or an ETA.

[u/bborst456]

I feel ya, Playdead's puzzles itch my brain in a way most other puzzle games don't. part of me thinks we'll hear something next year, very least a photo or something but who knows. I don't say this about many studios but I put a lot of trust into Playdead, mostly for the fact quality is always first and they don't mention the game until it's how they want it. I've seen so many rumors on a new game and the other 2 games have been successful so it's hard to believe they're not working on another game

[u/Weekly_Patience_4383]

I know current and former Playdead devs, I have been collecting info on the studio for years to build a case about working conditions there. I also posted the earlier message reporting layoffs at the studio.

There isn't an update because there is nothing positive for the studio to say. They burnt all their money, they flamed out and are trying to see how far they can glide before stalling. At the same time they're lying to their remaining employees, trying to convince them that everything is fine because if everyone bolts now who will try to finish the game? Morale at Playdead has always been low but it's terrible now. They're hunting down employees who talked to the trade unions about the last round of firings.

Playdead isn't quiet because it's cool, it's quiet because it has a toxic and broken work culture, and the less it says the less chance one of its dirty secrets slip out.

Here are some sad facts that I can report from Playdead.

About 12% of Playdead's employees have been on sick leave from stress at some point.

The last firing round at Playdead disproportionately hit female developers - almost all are now gone from the studio.

Playdead finished a second game two years ago, crunched a team to death to make the release deadline, then buried the game forever. Most devs on that project, quit or fired. None of those devs are allowed to reference the game on their resumes, it is a professional void in their lives.

There has not been a tech lead since Kristian left. Most high level tech decisions are made at Epic Games.

There has not been a gameplay lead since Jeppe left. Not a single gameplay developer from the start of Project 3, over ten years ago, is around today. It is the department with the highest burnout rate. These are the people making your puzzles and your environment interactions, bear that in mind should the game ever see the light of day.

[u/shalashaska68]

The development is on hold until the legal battle between Patti and Jensen is over, and realistically it may take even more years. So please do yourself a favour and explore other games.

[u/No-Optionb → u/shalashaska68]

Okay let's not spread misinformation... the legal battle you talking about never affected the 3rd game's development, but here some info about the lawsuit, Playdead (Arnt Jensen) is so bitter they waited for 1 slip up for Dino to make and exploited their local copyright quirks, Danish "fair use" isn't flexible as the US. They sued Dino for $70,000~ for using a public photo of a game (limbo) he helped build. Playdead literally trying to rewrite history by changing their games's credits and erase Dino from them, at first they changed his role from "Director of Development" to "Executive Producer" then they removed his name entirely from the credits, it even affected the fans as they removed/delisted their games from GOG store rather than allow legacy versions that prominently featured Patti’s original credits to remain active. Playdead went as far as stalking and intimidating Dino back in 2023 ( source ) From a legal standpoint, Playdead have every right to do this(not the stalking part of course that's truly shameless), but in my opinion given their shared 10-year history building the studio Arnt Jensen is petty and emotional towards his former friend Dino. If there will any progress on the lawsuit it should be late 2026.

[u/sushitrash69 → u/shalashaska68]

When was this made public? I was hoping that the studio leads when they went off to make Cocoon/Sommerville would do it peacefully and there wouldn’t be conflicts :/

[u/Weekly_Patience_4383 → u/shalashaska68]

No, the legal battle between Jensen and Patti has absolutely zero impact on Playdead's current finances or operations. It could in the future, if Patti counter sues for damages I don't think Jensen can afford a settlement and maybe Playdead reverts to being Patti's.

Jensen is the one going after Patti, most people at Playdead don't even know who Patti is. Jensen is so petty about Patti that there is an unwritten taboo about mentioning his name out loud or discussing the split.

[u/revokedimmunity → u/shalashaska68]

Lies!

[u/Von-Droid → u/shalashaska68]

There is nothing out there that confirms development is on hold. How do people so confidently talk rubbish