In a new interview over at Gamasutra, Double Fine boss Tim Schafer opened up about the studio's recent acquisition by Microsoft which was announced at E3. Describing Microsoft's efforts in expanding Xbox Game Studios as "a new way of acquiring companies", "where they're not merged into the larger corporate entity".

Currently the studio is finishing up development on the long-awaited Psychonauts 2. Like with The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment, its planned release on other platforms wont be affected by the acquisition. Tim Schafer confirms the word we've been hearing from other recently acquired studios that Microsoft's support is mostly financial. "They want us to retain our identity, our spirit," Tim explains. "That's what they want us to bring into the fold."

Tim also notes that he's aware that Microsoft's push to bring a wide range of content to its Game Pass subscription service factored into the decision. And that it's a benefit to both Microsoft and Double Fine for its games to appear alongside heavy hitters like Forza. "I could see why having a company like us and a company that makes games like Forza - very different games - all being on one subscription service like that makes it more valuable," Tim adds. "I could see how they would want to bring us in and not change us."

Having to no longer worry about funding or finding publishers for its projects, Tim notes that the acquisition will allow Double Fine to focus exclusively on games and that after the release of Psychonauts 2 and it's other in-development project Rad, the team is excited to pursue ideas that "feel experimental".

Also, he responds to the question about the release of the original Psychonauts over a decade ago - a game that Microsoft stepped away from as publisher. "They felt bad about it," Tim jokes. "And now they made good on that. So all is forgiven!"