The layoffs at publisher Humble Games — where all staff have reportedly been let go due to “restructuring” — have immediate ramifications for some video games under the publisher’s label. One such title is Coral Island, a farming simulation heavily inspired by Stardew Valley. The game is already out on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox and has a Switch port he was on the way thanks to a Kickstarter goal. But that has been doubted.
In a lengthy statement released on Twitter — which we can’t share in full because it’s pretty strongly worded, and rightfully so — developer Stairway Games says that Humble Games’ “recent restructuring leaves consoles in limbo,” and that includes the promised Switch version.
“For starters, we share your frustrations regarding the lack of a Nintendo Switch port on Coral Island,” the developer continues, stating that he “hasn’t been able” to discuss things due to “the publishing deal and NDA that we have.”
As it stands now, “The impact of Humble Games’ restructuring on Coral Island remains uncertain for all things console-related, whether porting or releasing hotfixes, as they are responsible for those platforms.” As an example, Stairway says it will release a hotfix for the Steam version of the game soon, but has “no idea” how to get the update on consoles because it doesn’t have access to the backend on other platforms.
It’s a stark reminder of the importance of publishers to indie developers, and the ongoing problems that layoffs can cause for both those laid off and those associated with the publisher
As the game was a Kickstarter project, many who backed the game signed up for the Switch. But given Humble Games’ “restructuring” and the uncertainty of porting in general, Stairway offers fans a “key change to the Steam platform.”
Signing off the post, the developer says he knows the situation is “crap” but that “we hope you understand,” to which many responded with sympathy.
