Donkey Crew, the studio behind the nomadic survival MMO Last Oasis, launched in 2020 and still in early access, recently discussed their plans with PC Gamer, shedding light on their decision to begin developing a new RPG called Bellwright last year, despite Last Oasis remaining unfinished.
Donkey Crew
Florian Hofreither, Project Lead of Last Oasis and Bellwright, revealed that the studio faced a difficult choice: “The reality is, it was either that or shutting down.”
“Last Oasis sold initially okay,” Hofreither explained to PC Gamer, “but after a while, with the reviews declining and the player base dwindling, it ceased to generate revenue. So the three options were to either lay off 90% of my studio, or embark on a new game project with the hopes of securing additional funding. Alternatively, we could simply close down operations altogether.”
Hofreither emphasized that developing a new game was the most viable option for both the team and the players. Should Bellwright succeed, the studio would have the financial means to continue working on the highly-anticipated version 1.0 of Last Oasis.
While the studio currently focuses on Bellwright, pausing Last Oasis development until Bellwright’s launch, which will also feature co-op support, Last Oasis players can look forward to the upcoming introduction of mod support. While the release of new official content such as maps and features remains uncertain, modders will soon have the freedom to create their own content within the game.
For further insights, readers can explore the full interview on PC Gamer, join the 80 Level Talent platform and Telegram channel, and follow Donkey Crew on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for breakdowns, the latest news, stunning artwork, and more.
