Designer Jonathan Blow created an indie hit in 2008 with the time-bending Braid, but that success only fueled his desire to finish The Witness. In fact, all of the money from Braid has been spent on the development of Blow's newest project.
In a recent interview with Engadget, Blow discussed the lack of digital sales on older platforms and how that affects Braid and in turn The Witness.
"Braid still sells well on platforms that are thriving, but two of Braid's big platforms were the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, both of which are sunsetting at this point," he explained. "Not so many people are buying digital games there. So the Braid income is not nearly enough to fund the team. I have borrowed a bunch of money to finish The Witness. So I hope when it's done, some people buy the game."
Over the past few years, the team behind The Witness and the game itself have continued to grow in size and scope. The puzzle count currently sits at 677, and Blow says it will take 50+ hours to 100% the game.
The Witness has no set release date, though Blow recently completed a speedrun of the game. It's currently in development for PC, PlayStation 4, and iOS and is expected to come out some time this year.
