Fntastic Studio Hits Pause on Escape Factory: A Comedy of Errors or Just Another Day in Game Development?
So, Fntastic Studio has decided to pull the plug on their crowdfunding campaign for the much-anticipated Escape Factory. You know, it’s funny – they could have just called it Escape From Reality, because let’s face it, their audience was not feeling quite the urgency to jump on board with $15,000 of goodwill.
The decision, announced via social media (because where else do you share such fantastic news?), came as a shock to precisely no one. It seems their game didn’t quite generate the must-have frenzy one would hope for. In fact, the excitement was so muted, you’d think it was the aftermath of a particularly uninspiring corporate seminar. But fear not, all the funds that were pledged are being returned to the kind-hearted souls—not that they’d likely donate to a cause that smells a bit like yesterday’s lunch now.
But Wait, There’s More…
Despite this setback, Fntastic assures us that the Escape Factory itself is not completely shelved; it’s merely been delayed until a “more appropriate time.” Which, let’s be honest, could mean they’ll dust it off alongside an old VHS tape of your high school prom. In the meantime, they’re trying to pivot like a professional figure skater towards a game that actually sparks some interest—an action horror title they’re calling Items. Yes, Items. Because why not name your game like it’s a cheap clearance bin at Walmart?
The Rollercoaster Ride of Game Development
Let’s talk about their last project, The Day Before, which launched in Early Access last December. Gamers booted it up faster than a startup entrepreneur on caffeine, only to find it was as buggy as a summer picnic. Complaints flew around like confetti at a wedding, leading to streaming refunds and disappointed faces. It’s almost poetic, really. A game released with all the enthusiasm of a file cabinet – and just as exciting.
To Infinity and… Mobile?
You might think that after such a flop, the studio would take a long, hard look in the mirror, but no! Rumors are swirling that they’re diving headfirst into mobile gaming. It’s like watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat—if the rabbit was a sad little pixelated character and the hat was filled with previous failed projects. Can you imagine? “Hey, remember that great zombie game? Well, how about we whip up a mobile experience that captures that same sense of dull despair?” Brilliant!
Fntastic studio announced the cancellation of a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the development of the game Escape Factory.
The authors of The Day Before published information about this on social networks. The decision was made because the title did not generate interest among the audience and was unable to reach the donation goal of $15,000. The donated funds were returned to the senders.
Despite the campaign’s cancellation, the creation of Escape Factory was not cancelled, but development was delayed until a “more appropriate time”. Fntastic has announced another project. The developers will create an action game with horror elements called Items. According to studio representatives, this is the title that fans would like to receive.
At the time of writing, Fntastic had not yet presented a demo of Items, but announced that work is already underway. After the trial version is released, the company will reopen the fundraiser on Kickstarter to explore other ways to release the title. To financially support the creation of Items, Fntastic wants to release several mobile games.
Fntastic Statement
The Day Before was released in Early Access on December 7, 2023. The game was immediately criticized for its technical condition and poor optimization. Gamers began to complain about the developers, which is why they began to return money.
Later, Fntastic studio announced that it would cease operations. The servers were closed on January 22, 2024. However, the company did not stop working. A rumor has surfaced online that the developers of the failed zombie shooter have moved into mobile gaming. Later the rumor was confirmed.
