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Ron Gilbert Cancels Zelda-Like RPG After Funding Falls Through, Unveils Death by Scrolling

He says unacceptable publisher terms made the project impossible to build at the intended scale.

Overview

  • In a new interview, Gilbert confirmed he ended work on the 2D pixel‑art RPG after failing to secure viable backing.
  • He described offered deals as "horrible" and said big publishers are increasingly analytics‑driven.
  • He argued crowdfunding is no longer a reliable path, calling Kickstarter "basically dead" for funding games.
  • Artwork and ideas were repurposed into Death by Scrolling, a roguelike vertical RPG about racing upward to pay the Ferryman and escape Purgatory.
  • Gilbert said today's market rewards developers who perform well on YouTube, which he considers a barrier for creators who are not performers.