Double Fine releases Thank You Bus Driver weeks after Xbox split

Double Fine has moved quickly as an independent studio after splitting from Xbox earlier this summer, releasing its first post-separation game Thank You Bus Driver on 14 October across Steam, GOG and Itch.io.

The black-and-white driving simulation casts players as a town bus driver tasked with ferrying passengers to their destinations within time limits. The game blends comedy simulation with rule enforcement mechanics, where drivers must turn around and slap passengers with exaggerated long arms to maintain order throughout the day. The title is a trademark Double Fine creation, pairing absurdist humour with functional gameplay systems.

This release marks Double Fine's return to independence following Microsoft's restructuring of its gaming division. Xbox laid off approximately 3,200 staff and spun off five first-party studios, including Double Fine. The studio itself reduced its workforce by roughly a quarter as a result of the changes.

Rather than pursue traditional publishing routes, Double Fine is launching Thank You Bus Driver through Double Fine Action Labs, a new label focused on "weird, little games" developed on accelerated timelines. The studio plans to use a new Amnesia Fortnight Kickstarter campaign to identify future Action Labs titles.

Studio founder Tim Schafer remains positive about Game Pass despite the split. "I love it as an idea," he said of the subscription service. "If you're sitting in a store and holding a disc, and it costs $70, and it's about a walking lighthouse, there's a barrier there. But if you've just got to download a game you've already paid for, it might lead people to trying weird games like Double Fine makes."