Nostalgia Game: Celebrating the Final Curtain Call of Our Beloved Video Game Era

Across the street from The Game Awards, in a parking lot adorned with a couple of trailers and a few plastic flamingos, the Racoon Logic team is stationed.

The developer behind the forthcoming Revenge of the Savage Planet is showcasing the game and engaging with reporters instead of producing an elaborate Game Awards trailer. It’s a refreshingly traditional approach to public relations.

“Just being part of the grand event, you can get somewhat lost in the commotion,” shares creative director Alex Hutchinson.

“For us, this is a lot more enjoyable, and somewhat simpler. And I like to believe we are celebrating the final farewell of the gaming industry I grew up in, which is… you receive an Edge cover, you invite journalists to speak with you in person… it feels like the conclusion. We’re crafting a tangible version of this game with Maximum Games. That’s the industry I cherish. That’s how I aim to operate. I don’t necessarily aspire to create a games-as-a-service project that costs $200 million, is turned off after a week, and never gets played.”

As the industry matures, one might hope that there exists an audience of older gamers that could appreciate the classic style.

“That’s our gamble,” he adds. “Next year will reveal if there are sufficient of us. Individuals in their 40s… even if they have children, they have more disposable income than in their 20s, but less time. Therefore, while you might still wish to play games, I feel pressured by games demanding weekly playtime. I don’t want that. I want to spend time with my kids or complete that home project.”

Hutchinson informs us that 2024, unlike previous trends within the industry, has been a fortunate year for the Racoon Logic team.

“We were wise not to expand too rapidly. We’ve maintained a stable team of about 30 individuals. We have sufficient funds, have not had to lay off anyone, and are quite stable… we’ve had to be disciplined in not increasing the game’s scope, nor capitulating to everyone’s requests. We’re currently polishing it up and looking ahead to its launch, and hopefully, a market exists for it.”

Revenge of the Savage Planet, arriving in May next year, is the sequel to 2020’s Journey to the Savage Planet, although due to various ownership situations, the team isn’t entirely certain of its predecessor’s success.

“We never viewed the numbers,” Hutchinson admits. “Initially it was 505 Games, and then we sold to Google, so we lacked insights into the figures. However, we had a player base, and the last estimate indicated around five to six million people played it. Which is fantastic… but that doesn’t confirm they purchased it, as it was available on Game Pass, Epic Store, and more. So, we don’t know how many players bought it versus those who played it.

“But it certainly looks like enough people played it, and it’s back on Game Pass right now which is fantastic for us. If we aren’t getting royalties from it, which we aren’t since we relinquished that to 505 to retrieve the rights to the IP, then we only hope for more people to discover it and hopefully enjoy it, leading to an interest in acquiring this new title.”

“I don’t necessarily want to create a games-as-a-service title that costs $200 million, is unplugged after a week and never gets played.”

Hutchinson harbors mixed feelings toward Game Pass and subscription services currently.

“It’s complicated and somewhat ambiguous,” he states. “Game Pass is effective when you’re trying to build an audience, and that’s the hardest part. But then… if we’re venturing into that arena, we want to ensure we have a $10 additional content pack and such, to ensure we generate some revenue. Because the compensation [from subscription services] has dropped dramatically over the past three years, making it less appealing than before. I’m genuinely concerned about a future where everyone is reliant on subscription models and anticipates free content. I don’t believe it has benefited the music industry at all, especially for smaller artists.

“However, the worst-case scenario is that you’re earning nothing and not getting compensated. I’ve spent two decades attempting to create games that people can form an opinion about, whether it’s Army of Two, Spore, Assassin’s Creed 3, or this one… no matter how many constitute they might detest it, that’s fine as long as others appreciated it. But when people haven’t even heard of the game you’re referring to… that’s the unfortunate situation.”

Revenge of the Savage Planet is set to be released during a highly crowded 2025 schedule, with a plethora of games expected to launch in the spring and summer, likely aiming to beat the anticipated debut of Grand Theft Auto 6 at the end of the year.

“We’re feeling quite optimistic,” Hutchinson expresses. “Our tone is markedly different and distinct.”