Double Fine has announced that it has acquired the rights to publsh the Costume Quest and Stacking IPs. In addition, the studio is teaming up with Nordic Games – who had bought the franchises from THQ – for future retail releases.
Double Fine president and CEO Tim Schafer said of the deal:
"I am pleased that we have regained full control over Costume Quest and Stacking, following a daring and top-secret midnight raid on the Nordic Games headquarters in Vienna."
Lars Wingefors, owner and CEO of Nordic Games, commented:
"We can't wait to partner with Double Fine for this upcoming retail launch of three of its most excellent games. However, I feel compelled to point out that we were happy to transfer distribution rights for Costume Quest and Stacking back to Double Fine in an entirely non-secretive and heist-free manner."
The deal will see Psychonauts, Stacking, and Costume Quest released for PC and Mac in North America and Europe in 2014. This marks the first time Stacking and Costume Quest have been available at retail – Psychonauts was available in shops in 2005.
Double Fine business development VP Justin Bailey added:
"Double Fine is dedicated to controlling its own IP, and we will continue working to bring all associated rights back in-house whenever possible, no matter how many split-second security system hacks or painstaking tunneling operations we have to execute."
Klemens Kreuzer, Managing Director at Nordic Games, however confirmed that no illicit activities or nighttime raids were involved in the deal.
"I just want to clarify, again, that we support the right of independent developers to control their own distribution, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to work with Double Fine. No heists."
The compliation pack featuring the three games is set for release sometime in the first half of next year.
