Spry Fox co-founder David Edery has revealed new details about Spirit Crossing’s origins as a Google Stadia-funded project and how the game nearly died twice during development. In a Reddit post on r/SpiritCrossing, Edery shared the game’s six-year development history, including how Google’s Stadia team approached Spry Fox in 2019 with an offer to fund a prototype and potentially pay for the entire game.
Spry Fox built the prototype, but Google eventually cancelled the project. The studio later found another publisher and was acquired by Netflix, where Spirit Crossing faced another uncertain future. Spry Fox eventually returned to independence, and the cooperative MMO is now scheduled to launch November 16.
Google’s Stadia Offer Shaped Spirit Crossing
Google gave Spry Fox considerable freedom in deciding what kind of game to make. Edery recalled the request as “the most ambitious game you can imagine making, and something that only Spry Fox would make.” The team asked what problem a game could help address and chose loneliness.
Edery worried that people could live close together but still feel isolated. He argued that social media often rewards outrage instead of meaningful conversations, and Spry Fox wanted to offer something different. Spirit Crossing took shape as an MMO focused on community, cooperation and empathy, where people could make friends and look out for one another.
The team initially thought Google’s backing might allow development to finish in a couple of years. Edery described the prototype as buggy and flawed, but beautiful. Google then withdrew its support as it abandoned Stadia’s game-development plans, cancelling Spirit Crossing along with other funded prototypes.
Another Publisher Brought Spirit Crossing Back
With Google’s backing gone, Spry Fox took Spirit Crossing to other publishers. No one wanted to fund it at first, and the team feared the game might never be completed. Months later, an unnamed publisher surprised the studio with an offer.
The publisher offered less funding than Google might have supplied, but it allowed Spry Fox to continue development. Netflix acquired the studio in October 2022. Edery says Netflix’s enthusiasm for Spirit Crossing was a major factor in the deal.
The team also worked through the COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties fitting into Netflix’s corporate culture. Edery says other setbacks remain subject to nondisclosure agreements, so he can’t discuss them publicly.
Spry Fox Continued Development After Netflix
Netflix ultimately lost interest in owning Spirit Crossing, according to Edery. Once again, the team worried the game might be cancelled. He described the process of leaving Netflix as stressful, but Spry Fox ultimately separated from the company and retained the game.
Back on its own, the studio continued development. As we reported in January, its founders made substantial salary cuts to help keep Spry Fox going after the split.
Edery hopes people from different countries and cultures will make friends through Spirit Crossing. The game is scheduled to launch November 16 on Steam, the Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
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