Double Fine’s post-Xbox future begins with Thank You Bus Driver

Double Fine has revealed Thank You Bus Driver, the first game to be published through its new Double Fine Action Labs label following the studio’s return to independence from Xbox Game Studios in July.

Studio founder Tim Schafer says Double Fine will continue making unusual projects such as Thank You Bus Driver and Keeper. In a recent interview, he also made clear that the studio’s future will remain under his control: nobody else will decide to close Double Fine.

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What is Thank You Bus Driver?

Thank You Bus Driver is a deliberately chaotic transportation simulator. Players collect passengers, drive them around and try to manage their duties while responding to unruly behaviour. The game’s unusual twist allows the driver to slap passengers who break the rules.

That offbeat premise reflects the kind of smaller, stranger project Double Fine Action Labs is designed to support. The label was announced in August and takes inspiration from recent independent successes such as Peak. Its goal is to make games that can be announced and released on a shorter timetable than a large-scale production.

The concept also represents a direction Schafer believes would be less likely to come from a major platform-led publishing structure. The newly independent Double Fine can now use projects like this to define its own creative identity.

Double Fine’s busy week

The announcement arrived during a particularly active period for the studio. A Kickstarter campaign combining a documentary with Amnesia Fortnight 2026: Indie Reboot has already exceeded its funding target.

Backers are currently voting on the ideas that Double Fine will develop during the game jam. One of those pitches will eventually become an officially released game. The team is also selling merchandise and presenting Thank You Bus Driver at PAX West.

Earlier in the week, Double Fine shadow-dropped a PS5 version of Keeper during a State of Play presentation. That release marked the studio’s first post-Xbox launch, while Thank You Bus Driver is the first title released under the Double Fine Action Labs name. Schafer discussed the studio’s independence and future plans in a Bloomberg interview.

Schafer said that no one will put Double Fine out of business except him, adding that he does not intend to shut it down because the studio is doing well.

When will Thank You Bus Driver launch?

Thank You Bus Driver does not have a release date yet. It is currently announced only for Windows PC, so console versions have not been confirmed.

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