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The new title from Final Fantasy XII and Vagrant Story creator Yasumi Matsuno has been delayed once again.
Playdek raised $660,000 for Unsung Story in early 2014, with an initial release date planned for mid-2015. This was subsequently pushed back to October of this year following a span of financial struggles for the developer.
Now, money issues have once again impacted the studio, as the departure of ‘key staff members’ have left Playdek reduced to a single development team and in need of a refocus.
“We now have one internal team capable of working on a single project, and for the financial strength of the company we need to focus on a few products in the near term that have the ability to get to a retail release before Unsung Story is able to,” the company stated in a new update on Unsung Story’s Kickstarter blog.
“While this is a difficult choice to make, it is one we need to do for the ongoing financial health of the company.”
The post suggests that external developers may be hired in an effort to carry on, with a new release window for progression goals left unknown for the time being.
The reaction from backers has been largely negative, with many insisting upon a return of their pledged money.
“I’m not naive enough to think you’ll refund my money, but know that I will never spend a penny with this company, and I’ll encourage everyone I know to do the same,” said Jaron Rolfe.
However, some onlookers have expressed their sympathy for the troubled studio.
“Despite what many of us (understandably) disgruntled backers have said, I’ve always felt like your team has been upfront and honest about the progress of this project,” Kit Burgess commented. “I see nothing to imply to me that my meager $20 pledge was mismanaged. For this, I thank you, and ask only for your continued forthrightness.”
