Psychonauts Rights Revert to Developer Double Fine

Video game developer Double Fine Productions have now gotten back the rights to Psychonauts, its hit adventure and platforming video game launched during 2005, and will apparently soon get revenue from continuing sales of the game, which is offered on a number of digital distribution services.

Anna Kipnis, who is a senior gameplay programmer working at Double Fine, has sent out a Twitter message saying that all the future sales of the game will benefit her company after the contract between Double Fine and Majesco, who has been handling publishing duties, has expired.

The developer has always had the intellectual property rights to Psychonauts, which means that it is able to create new content based on it, including a sequel but so far the company has chosen not to do so.

In an e-mail message sent to Gamasutra Tim Schafer, who is the leader of Double Fine, has stated, “It's true the publishing rights have reverted to Double Fine, but there are some more deals that need to be worked out and contracts that need signing before that actually means anything, financially. After that's all squared away, we will have some fun stuff to announce! (And no, it's not Psychonauts 2.)”

He also offered some clarification, saying that at the moment Double Fine would not be getting any money from Psychonauts sales.

Double Fine Productions is currently working on Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, a video game that will use licensed property and will be played using the Kinect motion tracking controller.

It does not have a launch date yet .

The company recently launched two titles, called Costume Quest and Stacking, that are delivered via digital distribution, and sequels to them might also come in the following months.

Ron Gilbert has also been hired by Double Fine to work on upcoming titles.