Neil Stephenson ends development on $500,000 Kickstarter Clang

Author Neil Stephenson has ended development on crowdfunded sword fighting game Clang.

The title, developed by Subutai Corporation, raised $526,152 through Kickstarter from more than 9,000 backers in July 2012, but ran into trouble a year later as funds ran dry. The studio attempted to find further funds for the game, but has now confirmed it was unable to do so.

In a final update, Stephenson said members of the team had also been hit by “significant financial losses” as they attempted to continue development on the title.

He noted however that ultimately, while he felt the game was technically innovative, it was not “sufficiently fun to attract additional investment".

Stephenson claimed just two dozen backers to date have asked for refunds, totalling around $700, and they have all been paid. A prototype and other donor rewards are also said to have been delivered as promised.

“Members of the team made large personal contributions of time and money to the project before, during, and after the Kickstarter phase,” read a statement from Stephenson to Kickstarter backers.

“Some members, when all is said and done, absorbed significant financial losses. I am one of them; that has been my way of taking responsibility for this. The team had considerable incentives – emotional and financial – to see Clang move on to the next round of funding. They showed intense dedication and dogged focus that I think most of our backers would find moving if the whole story were told. I will forever be grateful to them. In the end, however, additional fundraising efforts failed and forced the team to cut their losses and disband in search of steady work.”

Stephenson has said despite the failure of Clang, he is working on a number of other projects that have yet to be officially announced.