Ron Gilbert, the creator of Monkey Island, has sadly canceled his ambitious 2D pixel art RPG, described as a blend of classic Zelda and Diablo, due to difficulties in securing adequate funding. Despite earlier teasers showcasing towns with various shops, the harsh reality of publisher deals, which Gilbert deemed "horrible," made it unfeasible to proceed. He expressed his frustration over the challenging landscape for indie game funding, highlighting that today's publishers often shy away from creative, less conventional projects, favoring analytics-driven decisions that lead to repetitive game designs instead. Even crowdfunding avenues like Kickstarter seem less viable for new developers today. Gilbert's artistic vision remains alive in his upcoming game, Death by Scrolling, which applies some of the artwork initially intended for the canceled RPG.

What caused Ron Gilbert to cancel his Zelda-like RPG?

Ron Gilbert canceled his RPG due to a lack of financial backing and unfavorable publisher deals, which made it unfeasible to develop the game as envisioned.

Ron Gilbert has a storied history in the gaming industry, best known for his work on the classic Monkey Island series. His recent revival of the franchise, titled Return to Monkey Island, was well-received and marked a significant return to form, hinting at his continued passion for innovative game design even amidst industry challenges. Gilbert has heavily influenced adventure gaming, and his projects often balance nostalgia with modern storytelling techniques, appealing to both old fans and new players.