Double Fine regains Psychonauts rights

Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions has obtained the publishing rights to critically acclaimed 2005 title Psychonauts, although the legal situation remains complex.

The news of the deal was first revealed in a Tweet from Double Fine senior gameplay programmer Anna Kipnis, who indicated that the rights had reverted back to Double Fine and that the company would now begin to benefit from digital sales of the title.

However, in an email to website Gamasutra Schafer clarified that Kipnis was "jumping the gun a little bit".

"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," he clarified.

"After that's all squared away, we will have some fun stuff to announce! (And no, it's not Psychonauts 2.)"

Psychonauts was originally created by Double Fine for U.S. publisher Majesco, but despite positive reviews was not a commercial success. Double Fine retained the rights to the property, allowing it to make sequels if it chose to, but not the publishing rights to the original game.

A sequel has been rumoured for some time and Schafer has previously hinted at interest in the project.