The road to seeing Prison Architect 2 successfully launch is a winding one indeed. Following the two delays, more news has come from publisher Paradox Interactive, and it is not exactly good for longtime fans. Developer Double Eleven will be leaving the project following the failure to come to an agreement with the publisher.
“After nine years together, Double Eleven is leaving Prison Architect. Double Eleven has been with us since the console port, led the development of the game on all platforms, and has been working on Prison Architect 2 over the last few years. With the sequel passing certification on all platforms, the contract was fulfilled. However, we could not find a commercial agreement that worked for both parties moving forward and mutually agreed to part ways,” a statement on the game’s Steam page read.
Now, the baton has been passed along to Kokku, a Brazillian co-development company which has previously contributed to Horizon Forbidden West among other endeavours. Kokku has actually been working on Prison Architect 2 since Autumn 2023, so it is not exactly a sudden break.
“After talking to multiple studios, Kokku was found to be the best fit for the game going forward, as they are veterans in the gaming industry and also long-time fans of Prison Architect. If you’d like to read more about Kokku, head over to their website. You will get to know them better on the road to launch, in our upcoming Developer Diaries and insights on the game,” continued the statement.
The split certainly sounds amicable. All three parties share “a common long-term vision of Prison Architect 2” and seek to “build the game’s future” with the players. In a Twitter/X post, Double Eleven thanked all who have been with them throughout the journey.
“Our journey with Prison Architect has been an integral part of our studio’s 14-year history. From the initial launch of the game on consoles to the development of expansion packs and the sequel, our internal teams poured their hearts into every aspect of the franchise for close to nine years, a strong attachment extending even beyond our dedicated Prison Architect team. As fans ourselves, we’re grateful for the opportunity to have played a role in shaping the two games,” the studio said.
“To everyone who has been part of this remarkable adventure, we express our deepest gratitude, as this franchise has marked the lives of our staff forever. Your passion and support have been the driving force behind our dedication, and we cherish the memories we’ve created together.”
It remains to be seen what the transition’s results will be like as Prison Architect 2 ramps up for a September release.
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