Will Raz be returning to Whispering Rock in the upcoming sequel to the 2005 platformer Psychonauts? Apparently not. We know this because Double Fine Productions has just released a brand new Psychonauts 2 gameplay video entitled “Psychonauts 2 Art Test” featuring industry legend and Double Fine founder Tim Schafer (Day of the Tentacle, Broken Age) as well as the game’s lead designer Zak McClendon. The video is almost 10 minutes long and directed at Psychonauts 2 crowdfunding backers. Lead by Schafer, the video discusses the production of the game which is currently slated for a 2018 release and demonstrates a graphically stunning reimagining of the Whispering Rock Summer Camp we know and love from the first Psychonauts but sadly, will not be revisiting in Psychonauts 2. Watch the video below:
“For a platformer, it’s really important to be able to read the world and understand where you can go and where you can’t go and where you can explore,” says McClendon, panning through the early art test, designed using Unreal 4. The pair then follow with a demonstration of some of Raz’s moves, both old and new, like psychic projection in which Raz can clone himself and psy-knives in which Raz can throw knife-like shards at a target. Tim and Zak sign off, assuring fans of the franchise that they will have more to show off soon.
According to Psychonauts 2’s Fig campaign, the game’s estimated delivery window is Q3 2018 but an official release date has not yet been announced. If you can’t wait until then to revisit Double Fine’s eccentric psychics, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, a PlayStation VR exclusive title that bridges the events between Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2, will be available for digital download sometime this year.
