Baba Is You Dev Would "Really Like To Be Fine" With Future Games Not Being As Successful

Baba is You developer Arvi Teikari is hard at work on his next game, Environmental Station Alpha 2 (tentative title). But Teikari acknowledges that the sequel to Environmental Station Alpha, a 2015 metroidvania, isn't likely to achieve the same levels of success as Baba is You--a sentiment he's willing to accept.

"I've been trying to tell myself and remind myself that it's extremely unlikely that whatever I do next, or whatever I do ever in my career, will be as successful as Baba Is You," Teikari said in an interview with GamesIndustry.Biz. "Unless I figure out something as novel as Baba Is You, my future games will have to be okay not being as successful. And I would really like to be fine with that."

"ESA 2 is a very traditional metroidvania game, not one that would get people saying 'Wow this is so innovative!'" Teikari added. "More like, 'Oh, this is another game in the genre that already has a lot of games, not very interesting but I might enjoy playing it.' He hopes that he can be happy with the critical reception to ESA 2, which he predicts will be less favorable than Baba is You seeing as ESA 2 isn't currently as innovative.

Prior to completing ESA 2, Teikari plans on releasing a level editor for Baba Is You. He has no specific release date in mind, though he's aiming to finish in 2020.

In the interview, Teikari admits experiencing a sense of burnout following the completion of Baba is You, a game he developed entirely on his own. It's an experience shared by several other indie developers who designed games on their own--developing a game solo can be mentally and emotionally taxing.