Double Fine Productions

What Double Fine Productions does

Double Fine Productions is an independent-style video game development studio founded in 2000 by Tim Schafer in San Francisco, California. The studio is recognized for creative, narrative-driven adventure and action games built on hand-animated art styles and puzzle-based mechanics, with a portfolio spanning original IPs (Psychonauts, Broken Age, Brütal Legend, RAD, Keeper, Kiln) and remastered editions of classic LucasArts titles (Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle). It also operates the DFTV video content platform and co-founded the Day of the Devs indie showcase.

Microsoft acquired Double Fine in 2019 as part of its Xbox Game Studios expansion, and the studio now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary with approximately 42-100 employees. Revenue mechanics combine day-one inclusion on Xbox Game Pass (subscription licensing through Microsoft), direct digital sales across Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Microsoft storefronts, low-margin revenue from remaster catalog and merchandise (via Fangamer and iam8bit), and brand-extending content (DFTV, PsychOdyssey documentary). Customer segments are split between Game Pass subscribers and direct-purchase consumers of creative indie and adventure games.

As of mid-2026, the studio is operating under significant existential uncertainty: in April 2026 it launched Kiln, a multiplayer pottery brawler, which drew only 193 peak Steam players in its first 24 hours; in May 2026 workers filed a union petition with the NLRB and CWA; and in June 2026 reports emerged that Microsoft is preparing to close the studio or negotiate a spin-off under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's restructuring. The studio's future is materially dependent on the outcome of those negotiations.

Name

Double Fine Productions

Legal name

Double Fine Productions

Website

https://doublefine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Double Fine Productions is a San Francisco-based video game development studio founded in 2000 by Tim Schafer, known for narrative-driven adventure games (Psychonauts, Broken Age) and owned by Microsoft since 2019, currently facing potential closure or spin-off.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Adventure game studio
• Indie game publisher
• Multiplayer party games
• Remastered classic games

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: Direct game sales through digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop) and physical copies
2. Xbox Game Pass Day-One Releases: New releases added to Xbox Game Pass on launch day, providing subscription revenue through Microsoft's licensing agreements
3. Remastered Editions: Remastered versions of classic titles like Grim Fandango Remastered, Day of the Tentacle Remastered with enhanced graphics and audio
4. Merchandise and Collectibles: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, collectibles, and the PsychOdyssey documentary box set through Fangamer partnership

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Double Fine Productions is an independent video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes original narrative-driven video games for console and PC platforms. The studio produces adventure, action, puzzle, and multiplayer titles, and also develops remastered editions of classic LucasArts adventure games. Its games are distributed digitally via Xbox Game Pass, Steam, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop, alongside its own online shop and the DFTV content platform.

Product overview

Double Fine Productions is a video game development studio that creates original action-adventure, platformer, and puzzle games. The company develops games across multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Their portfolio includes original IPs like Psychonauts, Broken Age, Brütal Legend, and their latest release Kiln, alongside remastered editions of classic LucasArts titles such as Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, and Full Throttle. The studio is also known for documentary content through DFTV and PsychOdyssey, as well as merchandise through their Fangamer partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DFTV (Double Fine TV): The studio's video content platform showcasing game trailers, behind-the-scenes content, developer insights, and the making-of documentary series including PsychOdyssey.

Products and services

• Psychonauts 2 Narrative-driven 3D action-platformer in which players control Raz, a psychic acrobat exploring mental worlds; targeted at single-player adventure game fans.
• Kiln Multiplayer physics-based brawler with pottery and fire-themed combat for up to four players; published under Xbox Game Studios for Xbox and PC audiences.
• Keeper Narrative puzzle-adventure game published by Xbox Game Studios for Xbox consoles and Windows PC, available day one on Game Pass.
• Broken Age Point-and-click adventure game following two interlinked protagonists, Vella Tartine and Shay Volta, in a hand-drawn fantasy world; released on PC, mobile, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
• Brütal Legend Heavy-metal-themed action-adventure with real-time strategy elements, starring Jack Black; originally released on consoles and later ported to PC.
• RAD Roguelike third-person action game set in a post-post-apocalyptic radioactive wasteland; published by Bandai Namco across console and PC platforms.
• Grim Fandango Remastered Remastered edition of the 1998 LucasArts film-noir adventure game, re-released on modern PC and console platforms with updated visuals, controls, and audio.
• Day of the Tentacle Remastered Remastered edition of the classic 1993 LucasArts point-and-click adventure, with redrawn art, remastered audio, and modernized UI across PC and console platforms.
• Full Throttle Remastered Remastered edition of the 1995 LucasArts point-and-click biker adventure, with updated art, sound, and developer commentary across PC and console platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Psychonauts 2 received critical acclaim and multiple awards including BAFTA recognition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Microsoft / Xbox Game StudioscoreTechnology or IntegrationDouble Fine was acquired by Microsoft in 2019 and operates as part of Xbox Game Studios. The studio's games are released day-one on Xbox Game Pass. The studio is reportedly under review for potential closure or spin-off as part of Xbox's 2026 restructuring under new CEO Asha Sharma.
• FangamerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFangamer serves as the primary merchandise partner for Double Fine, selling branded apparel including the Golden Two-Headed Baby shirt, PsychOdyssey box set, and other collectibles through their online storefront.
• iam8bitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributoriam8bit is a merchandise partner offering Double Fine branded products including apparel and collectibles.
• Day of the DevscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay of the Devs is an indie game showcase event co-founded by Double Fine. The studio regularly showcases upcoming titles including Kiln at Day of the Devs events, providing playable demo opportunities for fans.
• Communication Workers of America (CWA)minorOthersWorkers at Double Fine filed a union petition with the NLRB in May 2026 in conjunction with the CWA, covering approximately 42 employees. Microsoft agreed to remain neutral and not interfere with organizing efforts.
• PlayStation (Sony)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Fine games are available on PlayStation platforms including PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 through the PlayStation Store. Titles like Kiln, Broken Age, and Day of the Tentacle Remastered are available on PlayStation.
• NintendominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Fine titles are available on Nintendo Switch through the eShop, including Broken Age and Day of the Tentacle Remastered.
• Valve (Steam)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSteam serves as the primary PC distribution platform for Double Fine games, with open betas and pre-orders available through the Steam storefront.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Supergiant Games: Independent narrative-driven game studio behind Bastion, Transistor, Hades, and Pyre. Directly comparable as a small, critically acclaimed, hand-crafted narrative/adventure studio with a similar team-size profile.
• Campo Santo: Acquired by Valve in 2018, developer of Firewatch. Comparable as a small narrative-first studio under a larger parent, sharing the indie-creative-with-platform-distribution structure.
• Asobo Studio: French studio behind A Plague Tale and the Microsoft Flight Simulator reboot. Comparable narrative-action studio with a Microsoft publishing relationship (similar to Double Fine's Xbox ownership).
• Playdead: Independent Danish studio behind Limbo and Inside. Directly comparable as a small, narrative/art-driven adventure studio with critically acclaimed hand-animated aesthetic.
• Moon Studios: Award-winning indie studio behind Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, published by Xbox. Directly comparable as a Microsoft-published narrative platformer developer at a similar team scale.
• Remedy Entertainment: Finnish studio behind Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Control. Comparable narrative-action developer with strong art direction and a multi-title IP portfolio, though larger and publicly traded.
• Dontnod Entertainment: French narrative-driven studio behind Life is Strange and Tell Me Why. Closely comparable as an indie-style narrative adventure developer with multiple award-winning IPs.
• Lucasfilm Games (LucasArts heritage): Original home of Tim Schafer and the IP basis for Double Fine's remasters (Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle). Comparable as a narrative/adventure game creator with the same franchise DNA.

Broad incumbents

• Naughty Dog: PlayStation-owned narrative action-adventure studio behind Uncharted and The Last of Us. Comparable as a narrative-adventure-first studio under a major platform owner, though at substantially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Thunder Lotus Games: Independent studio behind Jotun and Spiritfarer with distinctive hand-animated art direction. Comparable as a small studio with similar artistic sensibility and adventure-game pedigree, though with shorter IP history.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/doublefineprod
• Instagraminstagram.com/doublefine
• Xx.com/doublefine
• Facebookfacebook.com/doublefineproductions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/double-fine-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Double Fine Productions