Some disappointing news has been announced for fans of psychic traveler Razputin “Raz” Aquato. Publisher Microsoft and developer Double Fine Productions have confirmed during the Xbox Games Showcase that the sequel for the hit action-adventure platformer Psychonauts, Psychonauts 2, will be delayed to 2021.
Despite the news of the delay, the folks at Double Fine Productions still provided plenty of information regarding the upcoming sequel such as the game’s plot, an almost four-minute trailer titled Brain in a Jar, and some details from the new mechanics we should expect come launch date.
Plot-wise, Psychonauts 2 will pick up where its prequel and Psychonauts and the Rhombus of Ruin left off. “There’s a mole in the ranks," a blogpost on Xbox Wire details, "and if they’re not uncovered soon it could lead to the release of a dangerous psychic monster from the depths!” The “Brain in a Jar” trailer also provides some hints as to what the twist will be, and is made special by the voice appearance of star actor and comedian Jack Black (who seems to be voicing a mysterious ball of light). The rest of the trailer is filled with a musical number by Black, with scenes of trippy and psychedelic symbols. I’m beginning to think that Psychonauts 2 may possibly be musical in nature, but that’s probably just wishful thinking.
As for its gameplay, the blog mentions that Psychonauts 2 "contains all the jumping and platforming fans crave but adds new psychic powers for some added zing!” New abilities are granted to Raz such as the “Time Bubble” ability, which can be used to slow down moving objects or obstacles to create temporary platforms.
Lastly, it has been confirmed that Psychonauts 2 will release in 2021 on Xbox Game Pass, Windows PC, Mac, Linux, and PlayStation 4. It has also been stated that Psychonauts 2 “will be Optimized for Xbox Series X”. Whether this will make a difference in performance and visuals, we’ll just have to wait and see.
