Indie Game Studio Aggro Crab Cancels Major Project, Shifts to Smaller Games After Funding Loss

Image: Another Crab’s Treasure

Indie developer Aggro Crab has officially shelved its next major project—previously referred to as Going Under 2—after losing its primary source of funding and grappling with team burnout. The studio is now shifting its focus toward smaller, more manageable projects in an effort to maintain sustainability and reignite team passion.

The news was shared in a candid update by Aggro Crab’s community manager, Paige, who reflected on the challenges the studio faced following the release of Another Crab’s Treasure. The game, which launched in 2024 after over three years of development, received a content update earlier this year to wrap up loose ends, including the addition of New Game Plus. With that chapter closed, the team began working on what was to be their next big title—internally known as “Game 3.”

Initially, development on this project seemed promising. The studio had secured funding and jumped straight into prototyping. But just a few months in, the funding partner backed out, citing differences in creative vision. According to the team, despite a long search for alternative funding, they were unable to find a partner who shared their direction for the project.

This financial hurdle wasn’t the only issue. Paige noted that the team was experiencing deep fatigue after spending years on a large-scale title, and transitioning immediately into another ambitious game proved overwhelming. The resulting stress and burnout led the developers to re-evaluate not only the future of the project but also their well-being as individuals and creators.

“The burnout was real,” Paige admitted. “Turns out it's a lot harder to make fun games if you aren’t having any fun doing it.”

Ultimately, the team made the difficult call to cancel Going Under 2, despite having early gameplay footage that looked promising. However, this decision paved the way for a creative reset. Rather than diving into another large-scale production, Aggro Crab decided to participate in a game jam—and it worked.

In a surprising twist, the studio ended up creating two smaller games: Peak, developed in collaboration with Landfall and teased during the Landfall Day livestream in April, and Crash Out Crew, developed internally. These titles are being described as “Aggro Crab Side Hustles,” showcasing a fresh and lighter creative direction.

Looking ahead, the studio isn’t ruling out larger projects altogether. In fact, Paige teased that a new “Game 3” is already in the works, one that the team feels genuinely excited to return to. The roadmap now includes these two smaller titles launching soon, followed by a larger project.