Tarsier Studios have delivered two excellent puzzle-platforming horror games back to back with both Little Nightmares titles, but it seems their time with the series is now up. Tarsier were acquired by Embracer Group in 2019, and now that they have finished up development of Little Nightmares 2, which was ongoing at the time, they’re going to move on to new properties under new ownership, with Bandai Namco continuing Little Nightmares without them.
Speaking to IGN, Tarsier Studios CEO Andreas Johnsson praised Bandai Namco as a partner, but said that the developer will “create new IPs and explore new worlds.”
“For the last 6 years, our mission at Tarsier Studios has been to create mesmerizing worlds. Little Nightmares was our first attempt and was a huge success,” said Johnsson. “I personally love how Little Nightmares has gathered fans around the world over the course of the last 4 years. From the fan art, extensive fan theories and genuine reactions, it all has been amazing to witness. Our collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has been extremely satisfying, they listened to our creative vision and took our crazy ideas and ambitions to heart.
“That being said, it is bitter sweet to announce that we are leaving the world of Little Nightmares behind us. Little Nightmares will always be dear to us at the studio. Since being acquired by the Embracer Group in December 2019, it is now time for us to embark on a new chapter, create new IPs and explore new worlds. Personally I am very excited to see what our studio creates and counting down the days until we can welcome our fans.”
Meanwhile, Bandai Namco has said that though it has nothing to announce about the series’ future just yet, given the strong reception for Little Nightmares 2, the publisher is planning on delivering more content in the series in the future.
“We have nothing to announce at this moment, but since we received so much love from fans all around the world with the release of Little Nightmares 2, we feel energised to deliver more content in the future,” said a Bandai Namco spokesperson.
It’s not surprising that Bandai Namco isn’t willing to let Little Nightmares die, given the success it has seen. The first game has sold over 3 million units, while the property itself has expanded as well, with the mobile prequel Very Little Nightmares, a comic series, an upcoming TV show, and, of course, the recently released sequel. Who will take over as Little Nightmares developer remains to be seen though.
Little Nightmares 2, meanwhile, is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Stadia, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrades arriving later this year. In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Little Nightmares 2 makes every single moment count to craft a truly unsettling experience and to wordlessly deliver an expertly paced and impactful story.” You can read our full review through here.
