Ron Gilbert announces Thimbleweed Park 2 with private funding

Ron Gilbert, creator of Monkey Island and Terrible Toybox, has announced the development of Thimbleweed Park 2, with a planned release for early 2028. The project is being funded by an anonymous private investor who is a wealthy fan of the original game, allowing the studio to bypass traditional publishers and crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter.

Gilbert stated that he chose this path to avoid unfavorable publishing contracts, noting that many publishers demand the majority of profits even after recouping their initial investments. The new budget is estimated to exceed $1 million to cover approximately two years of development, account for inflation, and ensure fair compensation for the development team.

Regarding the future of the Monkey Island series, Gilbert noted that creating a new installment would be complicated due to brand rights held by Disney. He indicated that Disney prefers working with large corporations rather than small independent studios, making direct collaboration difficult.