Summary
Deliver Us Marsdeveloper KeokeN Interactive has announced that it will be laying off its entire staff. This comes amid a turbulent period in the games industry that’s filled with unfortunate job cuts and studio closures, and even thoughDeliver Us Marswas considered decent among fans, there were several other issues that led to KeokeN letting its workforce go.
KeokeN Interactive carved a niche for itself with its narrative-heavy, atmospheric sci-fi games.Deliver Us the Moonwas the Dutch studio’s debut title, which received positive reviews for its unique exploration of the Moon and interesting sci-fi thriller story. The sequel,Deliver Us Mars, built on the storytelling strengths further on the planet of Mars, albeit with some technical issues at launch. Sadly, though, the future of the series, as well as its developer, looks to be very uncertain.
Right before the Game Developers Conference in March 2024,KeokeN Interactive posted a video on Twittershowcasing several of their in-development projects, openly appealing to fans and industry professionals alike to “amplify our message to find a publisher, an investor, or someone that can help us continue this dream.” The founders even extended an open invitation for interested parties to connect with them at GDC, but unfortunately, these efforts proved unsuccessful. According to the studio’s announcement, “nothing substantial” materialized from the conference, leaving it with no choice but to lay off the entire development team.
KeokeN Founders Hope to “Rebuild” One Day
While the news of KeokeN’s current state is undoubtedly bleak, the studio will do everything it can to support the laid-off developers in finding new opportunities within the industry, who could send theirresumes toBaldur’s Gatedeveloper Larian Studios. However, KeokeN Interactive CEO Koen Deetman and managing director Paul Deetman haven’t entirely abandoned hope: “Paul and I are heavily beat, but far from beaten. It’s our personal mission to rebuild KeokeN brick by brick like we’ve done before, in the name of our people and to continue the legacy of our games.” The co-founders also confirmed an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the third entry in theDeliver Usseries,Deliver Us Home. Specific details regarding the campaign remain unavailable at this time.
KeokeN Interactive’s exodus adds to the growing list ofgame studios that have faced layoffs in 2024, and serves as a harsh reminder of the precarious nature of game development, especially for smaller studios. Moreover, it also shows how risk-averse some publishers are becoming, as KeokeN pitched their five in-development games to “40 publishers in over 200 pitch meetings,” yet none of them bore fruit for the studio. KeokeN now relies heavily on community support, which will hopefully work out well and allow the studio to start fresh.
Deliver Us Mars
WHERE TO PLAY
Sequel to the award-winning Deliver Us The Moon, Deliver Us Mars is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure offering an immersive astronaut experience. Explore new frontiers on a suspense-fuelled, high-stakes mission to recover the ARK colony ships stolen by the mysterious Outward.A BOLD NEW MISSIONTen years after the Fortuna mission, humanity is closer than ever to extinction. After a mysterious distress call from Mars, Earth’s youngest astronaut Kathy Johanson joins the Zephyr and its crew on one last mission: to recover the ARK colony ships stolen by the mysterious Outward, and with them, ensure the survival of the human race.OUT OF THIS WORLD GAMEPLAYBoard the Zephyr as you journey from Earth to the surface of Mars. Traverse and endure its harsh and unforgiving terrain as you quest to discover the secrets left behind by Outward. Use both brains and brawn to overcome mental and physical challenges, find the ARKs, and uncover the motivations of those behind the distress call that brought you here.A HANDCRAFTED EXPERIENCEExperience a highly polished and absorbing narrative experience packed with engaging gameplay. Every moment is handcrafted, delivering a suspense-filled, emotion-fuelled narrative alongside music from award-winning composer Sander Van Zanten, state-of-the-art motion capture, and stunning graphics, powered by Unreal Engine.
