In a Reddit AMA yesterday, Double Fine Productions founder Tim Schafer answered fan questions about the studio’s upcoming game, Psychonauts 2, including where the story picks up after the original game.

Fans of cult classic platformer Psychonauts were giddy when developer Double Fine Productions announced a crowdfunding campaign for the game’s long awaited sequel in December 2015, and within roughly one month, the campaign was successfully funded with over $3.3 million. While over a decade has passed since the release of the original Psychonauts, Schafer said that the sequel’s story will pick up right where the first game left off.

“The story for Psychonauts 2 is something I wanted to do back when Psychonauts was released,” Schafer said. “In the intervening years I’ve been keeping a document of ideas going, with new mental worlds and story ideas going in as I think of them. So I’m starting this game with the rough story figured out, ideas for brains and mechanics, and an engine (Unreal).”

“In Psychonauts 2, Raz will finally get to go to Psychonauts headquarters–his lifelong dream. There he can see Sasha and Milla in their natural environment–international espionage. But he finds several things strange about the organization.”

“While Truman Zanotto was missing, several changes to the direction of the organization were made by his second in command. Funding was cut from traditional psychic research and peacekeeping, and redirected to unorthodox, fringe endeavors, including the discredited practice of necromancy. Raz soon uncovers sinister things at work in the shadows of Psychonauts headquarters, including double agents and evils of the past.”

“Raz’s own family history plays a pivotal part in the story, and Raz must confront the roots of the curse placed on his family once and for all. And also deal with this whole ‘girlfriend’ term and what it really means. :)”

Meeting fan expectations

While many fans are excited over the upcoming sequel, a few are also nervous that Double Fine will not be able to replicate the success of the original, particularly after some missteps by the studio in recent years.

“Many people have lost trust in your company due to the mishandling of several past games resources, such as the space base debacle,” Reddit user wrote Johndoz wrote. “What would you say to ease the fears of those worried Psychonauts 2 may suffer a similar fate?”

Spacebase DF-9 was a game developed by Double Fine that was released through Steam Early Access. The game suffered from poor Early Access sales, and eventually Double Fine halted production on the game and move it to full release, upsetting many fans who felt cheated that the plug was pulled so quickly on the game.

While Schafer avoided talking about Spacebase’s specific issues, he pointed out that Double Fine tries to remain as transparent as possible about the decisions it makes.

“We have put three games through early access–Hack ‘n’ Slash, Massive Chalice, and Spacebase,” Schafer responded. “Two of these worked out great, and one of those was a disappointment to many people.”

“We have shipped 17 titles over the last 15 years and overall we have a great track record of shipping great games and being extremely transparent and honest with our community,” he continued. “That is the more lasting reputation of Double Fine, and the reason people can feel confident about Psychonauts 2!”

Screenshot via DoubleFineProd | YouTube