Life is Strange developer Don’t Nod refocuses development plans following weak financial results
Don't Nod, the French publisher best known as the creator of the Life is Strange series, has confirmed that it will pause some of its projects and refocus its plans after Jusant and other titles failed to meet sales targets.
The details:
The publisher stated in its latest financial report that Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, which were released in October 2023 and February 2024, respectively, "did not achieve the commercial results" that it was hoping for. While both titles received positive reviews, the poor commercial performance has caused a "deterioration" in Don't Nod's half-year financial results, prompting the company to consider "all possible options regarding our roadmap."
Don't Nod has announced that it will be "temporarily pausing two projects in the design phase" that are expected to be released before 2027 in order to tailor them to a wider range of players. The decision is also intended to "prioritize resources and maximize the chances of success of the titles with the greatest potential at present," but it is unclear whether it will have a significant impact on any of its other five projects.
The company's next major title, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, is the first to be developed by Don't Nod Montreal, a studio made up of former Life is Strange developers. Lost Records will be released in parts, referred to as "tapes," with the first arriving on February 18, 2025, and the second in March of the same year. The report noted that the game was met with "particularly positive reception" at Gamescom, where the press had the opportunity to play it for the first time.
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