All articles tagged with #kickstarter
Double Fine is reviving its Amnesia Fortnight game jam as a live Kickstarter event on August 31, where backers will vote on which of four prototype ideas the studio should develop into a full game, with a documentary by 2 Player Productions; the move aims to secure runway and maintain independence after being spun off from Xbox amid recent corporate restructuring, with the studio retaining IP and publishing rights.
Double Fine launches Amnesia Fortnight 2026, a livestreamed game jam in which Kickstarter backers vote on which of the studio's ideas become four prototypes and, ultimately, which one becomes a small final game; 2 Player Productions will film the process for a new documentary as the studio pursues its post-independence direction after layoffs earlier in the year.
Felicia Day’s The Guild: Ren Faire’d reunion movie has become the biggest crowdfunded film in history, raising $5.704 million from 37,455 backers—toppling the Veronica Mars Kickstarter record of $5,702,153—with about 38 hours to go in the campaign. The film reunites Day’s web series cast (Codex, Zaboo, Vork, Tink, Clara, Bladezz) and features guests like Nathan Fillion, Misha Collins and Wil Wheaton. Day says the project demonstrates there’s still a path for indie storytelling outside big studios, even after California denied a tax credit, a point she argues should help independent projects under $10 million.
Felicia Day launches The Guild: Ren Faire’d on Kickstarter to fund a Ren Faire–set feature reuniting The Guild cast; the project is pursuing a sub-$10 million budget and sits among Kickstarter’s top-funded narrative films with roughly $5.2 million raised, aiming to top Veronica Mars' $5.7 million mark. The campaign includes merch, an RPG and a dating-sim to boost pledges, and faces typical film-production hurdles like insurance, union contracts and tax credits, underscoring Day’s belief in IP ownership and the potential of web-native storytelling.
Felicia Day is reviving her web series The Guild as a feature film, The Guild: Ren Faire’d, after a Kickstarter campaign exceeded its $1.5 million goal and has since surpassed $5 million. The project reunites the original cast for a Renaissance Faire–set story, with Day also launching a new game-showing series and continuing to defend IP against AI, marking the show's 20th anniversary and a return to the collaborative, fan-backed spirit that launched the web series.
Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton are launching Conludo, a 10-episode tabletop-talk show tied to The Guild reunion movie and funded by Kickstarter, featuring conversations and game play with celebrity guests. The project aims for democratic, easy-to-watch distribution, but Day reveals The Guild: Ren Faire’d was denied California tax credits, underscoring indie filmmakers’ challenges and shaping their distribution plans.
Stars Reach, the Kickstarter-backed sandbox MMORPG from Playable Worlds led by Raph Koster, enters early access today, offering a terraforming-forward galaxy where players can build governments, craft, trade, and shape ecosystems across a vast simulated universe. The current build covers core systems (combat, building, government, crafting, trade) but remains in active development, with a progression wipe planned before 1.0. Early-access editions cost $30 (base), $50, and $80, while the final launch next year will be free-to-play. The project has faced funding challenges and layoffs, casting some doubt on the timing, but a detailed six-month roadmap aims to deliver features like guilds, weather, spaceships, and more.
Peak Design launches the Field Bracket on Kickstarter, a modular L-bracket/hand grip with a built-in Finder Tag slot. The Beacon Finder Tag works with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub, uses a CR2025 battery for up to six months, and is IP67 rated. Pricing starts around $125 on Kickstarter (MSRP $149.95) with bundles near $199. It’s ARCA-compatible, integrates with Peak Design straps, and supports additional accessories like a cheese plate and hand grip.
Peak Design debuts Field Bracket, a modular, tool-free L-bracket system featuring a camera-specific baseplate, a repositionable upright, and optional accessories (Cheese Plate, Hand Strap, Beacon Finder Tag); designed to be more adaptable than traditional L-brackets and compatible with tethering and Arca-style setups. Available via Kickstarter starting at $125 (MSRP $149.95) for select Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon, and Sony bodies.
The Verge tests Mondo Robotics’ Beni, a two‑legged robot dog that can run up to 18 mph, jump about 10 inches, follow you or a pet, and film in 4K HDR (with options for 3K60 or 1080p60+). It’s Kickstarter‑priced around $600 with an $800 full retail tag, controllable via app joysticks or a wrist controller, and capable of following from behind, orbiting, or snapping ahead like a drone. The robot is reportedly sturdy and rebound-capable after crashes, but the demo also shows some alignment issues and potential timing risks for fall shipping. If production stays on track, Beni could be a fun, capable camera‑bot with future add‑ons (treat‑tosser, dock charge) and modular accessories; otherwise it remains a promising prototype with uncertain delivery.
RPG Project Phoenix, the crowdfunded JRPG by CIA, Inc. that raised over $1 million in 2013, has released its first update in seven years. Director Hiroaki Yura apologizes for the long silence, explains past delays (2015 and 2018) and says Kickstarter funds were used to support Phoenix rather than personal gain. The update includes a rough Nobuo Uematsu main theme and a short gameplay prototype, with production now targeted to finish by the end of 2031 and a release date to be announced afterward.
A hands-on preview of the unreleased Cyberpunk 2077 TCG by WeirdCo highlights fast, 20-minute matches built around 40–50 card decks (no more than three copies of a card) and three Legends. The game uses a dice-driven system (D4–D20) that starts a round clock when rolled; when a player hits seven gigs, they win, with sudden death at eight. Resources (eddies) and selling unused cards add depth, while artwork pulls from CD Projekt Red’s Night City vault and color-codes decks by skill trees. The reviewer praises the streamlined text, sharp visuals, and tournament-friendly structure, and plans to dive back in when the game launches later this year.
Flipper, the company behind Flipper Zero, unveiled Flipper One, a compact RK3576-powered network multitool that doubles as a mini PC. It aims to fix usability issues seen in tiny Linux boxes with a D-pad UI, potential Flipper OS and app store, and support for multiple user profiles. The device promises Wi‑Fi 6E, Ethernet, and 5G via modules (M.2, eSIM, or SIM), plus a PCIe expansion slot, and is sized around one-and-a-half fists. It’s not for sale yet but is expected to launch on Kickstarter later this year with a target price around $350. Flipper positions the One as a more open, configurable “cyberdeck” companion to Flipper Zero.
Kickstarter has scrapped its newly introduced mature-content guidelines and restored an earlier version after backlash, noting that the rule changes were influenced by Stripe’s compliance requirements and that it has advocated for creators with Stripe; the company says it will continue pushing for flexibility and clarity while creators still face Stripe’s rules.
Kickstarter has rolled back its controversial NSFW guidelines after revealing they were largely driven by Stripe’s compliance rules. The company’s COO said Stripe’s separate requirements shape how money moves and can suspend campaigns mid-funding, leaving creators’ funds in limbo. The platform has returned to a narrow policy banning pornography and illegal content, but notes that Stripe can still suspend campaigns even after Kickstarter approves them. Stripe did not comment.