After the disastrous launch of The Day Before, Fntastic as a developer was begging for atonement. In the act of redemption, they stated their plan for recovery on their official website. One of their plans was to launch a campaign on KickStarter and beg for funds from the public.
But later, it didn’t end well.
Fntastic has officially pulled the plug on its Kickstarter campaign for a new project called Escape Factory, a physics-based multiplayer co-op escape game. According to a recent announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the crowdfunding initiative failed to generate enough interest and was unlikely to meet its funding target. In response, Fntastic has decided to halt development of Escape Factory and cancel the Kickstarter, ensuring no funds were collected.
Despite this setback, the developer is far from calling it quits. While the cancellation of Escape Factory marks the end of one project, it also signals the beginning of another—Items, an “action-horror prop hunt” game that Fntastic claims will require substantial resources to develop. To support this ambitious project, the studio plans to release mobile games in parallel, with the possibility of launching another Kickstarter campaign in the future to allow players to test and engage with the game before its full release.
This latest development has sparked both curiosity and skepticism among Fntastic’s followers, given the studio’s turbulent history with game releases, particularly its ill-fated title The Day Before.
Escape Factory: A Failed Kickstarter Campaign
Fntastic’s announcement regarding Escape Factory came as a surprise to many in the gaming community. Initially, the idea of a physics-based co-op escape game sounded promising, especially from a developer with bold ideas like Fntastic. However, the game failed to capture the attention it needed to succeed on Kickstarter, leading to its untimely demise.
According to Fntastic, the project “did not generate enough interest” to justify moving forward. The lack of community support, coupled with an underwhelming response from potential backers, meant that the game had little chance of achieving its funding goals. While some fans expressed disappointment, others viewed it as an expected outcome, given the developer’s past struggles.
Kickstarter has long been a go-to platform for indie developers seeking to bring their unique visions to life. However, crowdfunding campaigns are not without risk. For Fntastic, the campaign’s failure points to a broader issue—community trust. After the rocky release of The Day Before, many gamers remain skeptical of the studio’s ability to deliver on its promises, and this skepticism likely contributed to the lack of enthusiasm for Escape Factory.
Fntastic’s struggle to engage backers raises important questions about how indie developers can successfully navigate crowdfunding in a competitive market. Building trust, offering clear and transparent communication, and delivering past projects successfully are key elements for any developer hoping to secure funding through Kickstarter.
Fntastic’s New Action-Horror Prop Hunt Game
Fntastic wasted no time in shifting gears after the collapse of Escape Factory. In their social media post, they announced a new game titled Items, described as an action-horror prop hunt experience. For those unfamiliar with the genre, prop hunt games typically involve players disguising themselves as objects within the game environment, while other players attempt to find and eliminate them.
The “action-horror” twist to this classic multiplayer format suggests that Items will feature not only tense, fast-paced gameplay but also a darker, more atmospheric tone. This blend of horror and multiplayer strategy could appeal to fans of games like Dead by Daylight or Phasmophobia, positioning Items to carve out a niche in the increasingly popular multiplayer horror genre.
Fntastic’s Response to Criticism
In an effort to reset its image, Fntastic recently announced its ‘Fntastic 2.0’ initiative, a campaign aimed at rebranding the studio and regaining the trust of the gaming community. Part of this rebranding effort seems to be the focus on mobile games and smaller projects, like Items, that require fewer resources but can still offer engaging gameplay experiences.
Fntastic has also stated that it is committed to ensuring its future projects are thoroughly tested by players before official release, with the possibility of another Kickstarter campaign down the line to facilitate this process. This represents a shift towards a more player-centric approach, with the hope of fostering a better relationship with its fanbase.