Game Website, Hi Bit Studios Page..gone

[NerdigerNerd]

Guess most people here gave up hope for a sequel anyway. Googled a bit after seeing multiple posts here asking for info.

Well, didnt find out real info about the people behind 198x and future plans, but the website for this game is gone, their tumblr page is gone, the last activity by the 198X account on Twitter / X was made in April 2021.

[Acethor]

I think their last activity was still the Backer-only update they posted on Kickstarter on March 10, 2023 called "The Future of 198X": https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103388577/198x/posts

There were 76 heart reacts on this update, which lead me to believe that it was positive news provided. However, unless a backer comes forward and shares what the update was about, we'll never know.

[Omnivac]

Here's the backers only post from March 9, 2023:


----------------------------------------------------
Dear friends & backers,

First of all, sorry for the long silence. It’s already been 3 years since 198X was released on Nintendo Switch and we begun working on Part 2.

What started out as a mission to create some new levels and wrap up the story, soon turned into a new passion project to surprise both ourselves and all you long-time supporters.

At the same time we needed to adapt to reality. We are still extremely thankful for the $70k we recieved from almost 2000 backers, but the truth is that this budget wasn’t even close to cover the costs of making something this ambitious. So all work on Part 2 needed to be done alongside separate full-time jobs of the team. And that’s why it’s taking so long.

We have a very cool concept, a completed script, new amazing art – just look at this WIP scene! But we need more time. And honestly, it’s really hard to say exactly how much.

We will try and do better with keeping you updated, and we just hope you still believe in us and wanna continue supporting 198X.

Thanks once more for all your love & support!

--------------------------------------------------------------

[Acethor]

Originally posted by Omnivac:

Here's the backers only post from March 9, 2023:


----------------------------------------------------
Dear friends & backers,

First of all, sorry for the long silence. It’s already been 3 years since 198X was released on Nintendo Switch and we begun working on Part 2.

What started out as a mission to create some new levels and wrap up the story, soon turned into a new passion project to surprise both ourselves and all you long-time supporters.

At the same time we needed to adapt to reality. We are still extremely thankful for the $70k we recieved from almost 2000 backers, but the truth is that this budget wasn’t even close to cover the costs of making something this ambitious. So all work on Part 2 needed to be done alongside separate full-time jobs of the team. And that’s why it’s taking so long.

We have a very cool concept, a completed script, new amazing art – just look at this WIP scene! But we need more time. And honestly, it’s really hard to say exactly how much.

We will try and do better with keeping you updated, and we just hope you still believe in us and wanna continue supporting 198X.

Thanks once more for all your love & support!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Gave you an award cause you deserve it. Thank you for sharing the update with us. Although it's sad to hear that the sequel is in limbo, I'm hopeful they will continue to develop it as time goes on.

[Omnivac]

The "We will try and do better with keeping you updated" line tells it all sadly. Over a year later and no update whatsoever.

I feel they probably spend most of the time and money on those cutscenes and awefully pretentious story, which seems to be their passion, rather than with the actual game sections which are fun but ruined by the unskippable cutscenes.

[Zora Mystery]

Originally posted by Omnivac:

Here's the backers only post from March 9, 2023:


----------------------------------------------------
Dear friends & backers,

First of all, sorry for the long silence. It’s already been 3 years since 198X was released on Nintendo Switch and we begun working on Part 2.

What started out as a mission to create some new levels and wrap up the story, soon turned into a new passion project to surprise both ourselves and all you long-time supporters.

At the same time we needed to adapt to reality. We are still extremely thankful for the $70k we recieved from almost 2000 backers, but the truth is that this budget wasn’t even close to cover the costs of making something this ambitious. So all work on Part 2 needed to be done alongside separate full-time jobs of the team. And that’s why it’s taking so long.

We have a very cool concept, a completed script, new amazing art – just look at this WIP scene! But we need more time. And honestly, it’s really hard to say exactly how much.

We will try and do better with keeping you updated, and we just hope you still believe in us and wanna continue supporting 198X.

Thanks once more for all your love & support!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the update. It's a shame we won't get the next part for a long time.

[Haruspicus]

This is quite heartbreaking.

198X hit me in a way very few games ever had.

I hope the developers are doing well, regardless.. they will be missed.

[Rammur]

why alot of people stop trusting in kickstarter