Ron Gilbert Says Making Another ‘Monkey Island’ Game Would Be “Really Complicated”
Ron Gilbert, creator of the Monkey Island adventure game series, has stated that developing a new entry would face significant complications due to the multiple companies involved in production and rights management. Speaking with Bloomberg following the announcement of Thimbleweed Park 2, Gilbert acknowledged the licensing complexity that would surround a new Monkey Island title.
The last Monkey Island game, Return to Monkey Island, was released in 2022 by publisher Devolver Digital, with Disney—which owns the intellectual property rights to the series—playing a substantial role in its development. This multi-party involvement illustrates the challenge Gilbert references: coordinating between the original creator, the IP rights holder, the publisher, and other stakeholders.
Facing these constraints, Gilbert has chosen an alternative path forward with Thimbleweed Park 2, deliberately stepping away from the traditional game-publisher model to maintain creative control and simplify the development process. This decision reflects growing tension in the gaming industry between established franchises bound by complex rights agreements and independent creators seeking autonomy over their projects.