Work on Steam FPS Game Paused Because Dev is Going to Prison for 3 Years

Summary

• Development of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run has been halted due to the creator's three-year prison sentence.
• The game remains in early access limbo.

Fans of the Steam FPS Fortune's Run will be disappointed to learn the game's early access period may be significantly extended. The reason? Its sole developer is facing a three-year prison sentence. While development delays are common for Steam games—often due to financial or technical challenges—Fortune's Run faces a unique obstacle: its creator's incarceration.

Prior to this news, Fortune's Run enjoyed considerable success on Steam, boasting a "Very Positive" rating and praise for its nostalgic art style and innovative gameplay, all while still in early access. Unfortunately, any further updates are now indefinitely postponed. Although many games, such as Half-Life 2, have overcome prolonged development hurdles, Fortune's Run's future remains uncertain.

The game's creator and sole developer, Dizzie, revealed this news in a Steam update on January 14th. Dizzie announced their three-year prison sentence, directly impacting development until their release. While the specific crime wasn't disclosed, Dizzie stated it predated Fortune's Run's development and occurred during a period described as "very violent." While not unique in the gaming world—streamer Johnny Somali recently faced similar legal issues—a game's delay due to a developer's imprisonment is unusual.

Progress on Fortune's Run Halted Until Developer's Release From Prison

Fortune's Run initially had a second team member, but they departed the project following a botched surgery and subsequent disinterest in game development. This leaves Dizzie as the sole developer, resulting in a complete halt to development during their imprisonment, beginning in February 2025. The game's Steam page still targets a 2026 release from early access, a goal now highly improbable. However, considering games like Satisfactory took over five years to leave early access, a three-year delay wouldn't be unprecedented in the indie game sphere.

Dizzie affirmed their intention to complete the game upon release from prison. Players can continue enjoying the current early access version until then. Numerous other excellent early access shooters on Steam offer alternatives for those seeking similar experiences in the interim.