Wanderstop Developer Ivy Road Closing After Second Project Fails to Secure Funding
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Ivy Road, the indie studio behind Wanderstop and featuring talent from The Stanley Parable and Gone Home, is shutting down after failing to secure funding for its next game, Engine Angel.
Ivy Road, the indie development studio founded by industry veterans behind acclaimed titles like The Stanley Parable, Gone Home, and Minecraft, is officially closing its doors. As reported by Eurogamer, the studio's debut release, Wanderstop, earned an 80 on Metacritic when it launched last year, but the team was ultimately unable to secure the financial backing needed for its follow-up project, Engine Angel. Despite shopping the concept around to potential publishing partners, the team could not land a deal in the current economic landscape.
In their official farewell statement, the developers expressed gratitude for the opportunity to create Wanderstop together while acknowledging the harsh realities of the modern games industry. They noted that raising capital has become remarkably difficult, making it impossible to bring Engine Angel to life as a team. However, players still have something to look forward to, as the studio confirmed they have been working on one final surprise over the past year alongside publisher Annapurna Interactive to help the game reach new audiences.
The closure of Ivy Road adds to an increasingly bleak picture for game development talent globally. Industry tracking indicates that thousands of developers have already lost their jobs in the opening months of 2026, following massive waves of layoffs throughout 2024 and 2025. It is a sobering reminder of the financial precarity facing even highly respected creative teams, where critical acclaim and passionate player communities do not always translate into long-term publishing security.
Tags: Ivy Road, Wanderstop, Indie Games, Industry News, Annapurna Interactive
Original article: Eurogamer