Ron Gilbert, the creator behind iconic titles like Monkey Island, recently made the difficult decision to halt development on his Zelda-inspired RPG project. This choice stemmed from significant challenges in securing the necessary support from a publisher. In a candid interview, Gilbert expressed his frustrations, stating, “I just didn’t have the money or the time to build a big open-world game like that.”

He emphasized that larger, data-driven publishers often rely on formulas to determine potential profitability, which can stifle creativity and innovation in game design. This predicament reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry, where many developers find it increasingly challenging to fund unique and unconventional projects. The move to cancel the project highlights the ongoing struggle for creative freedom within the tightly controlled environments of mainstream game publishing.