Double Fine reveals its first post-Xbox game as Tim Schafer declares no one will shut the studio down but him
Double Fine Productions, the San Francisco-based video game studio founded by Tim Schafer, has announced its first game following its independence from Xbox Game Studios in July: Thank You Bus Driver, a whimsical bus-driving simulator with an unconventional twist.
The new title will be released under Double Fine Action Labs, a recently established label unveiled in August. Action Labs focuses on smaller-scale, rapidly developed indie games that can be announced and released quickly to players, drawing inspiration from recent indie successes.
Thank You Bus Driver embraces Double Fine’s signature quirky sensibility. Rather than a straightforward transportation sim, the game is a comedic job simulator where players drive passengers to their destinations while maintaining order—with the unique mechanic of slapping passengers who refuse to follow the rules. The title represents Double Fine’s creative direction post-independence, emphasizing the studio’s commitment to experimental and unconventional game design.
In his recent comments, Schafer reaffirmed the studio’s independence, stating that only he could shut down Double Fine. The studio has remained active since the split, including launching a game jam Kickstarter campaign that features Brutal Legend 2 as a stretch goal. This marks an exciting new chapter for the studio, which can now pursue projects without publisher constraints.