Indie Auteur Ojiro Fumoto Discusses Poinpy Revival, Netflix Deal, and Nintendo Past

Japanese indie developer Ojiro Fumoto has reflected on his career, the creation and recent rerelease of Poinpy, his past stint at Nintendo, and his partnership with publisher Devolver. Fumoto first gained widespread recognition with the cult-hit vertical platform shooter Downwell, which launched through Devolver in October 2015. That initial success eventually led Fumoto to join Nintendo, where he contributed briefly to titles like Ring Fit Adventure and Donkey Kong Bananza. However, realizing that large team environments were not suited for him, Fumoto returned to independent development to create Poinpy.

Originally announced during Netflix's 2022 Geeked Week event following a selection process where multiple partners were considered, Poinpy was an exclusive release for the streaming service's gaming platform. According to Fumoto, the game was already well into development when Netflix picked it up. Recently, the three-year exclusivity period expired, resulting in the game's removal from the service amid shifting priorities. Following a period where Fumoto handled personal life events, the game has now been successfully resurrected with Devolver's help.

The newly rereleased version of Poinpy is available entirely for free with no advertisements or mandatory monetization. Players who wish to support the creators can optionally leave a tip via an in-app purchase. Fumoto noted that the title had already earned enough financially from its initial release to satisfy him, making the free rerelease a gesture aimed largely at game preservation and allowing new players to enjoy the title. Looking ahead, Fumoto is currently in the early days of planning a brand-new project designed specifically for PC and consoles, noting that its gameplay design relies on traditional gamepads.