The recently released titleHigh on Lifewas a massive success for Squanch Games, with the relatively new studio releasing its most ambitious and high-profile project to great levels of positive public sentiment. With a unique level of consistent humor and a visually-striking overall aesthetic, the day-one Xbox Game Pass title has been enjoyed by a record-breaking amount of people for the popular Microsoft subscription service.
With that being said, the future ofHigh on Lifewas significantly brought into question recently with the serious controversy surrounding Squanch Game’s founder and CEO Justin Roiland, who also lent his voice to many of the game’s characters. Despite Roiland being so synonymous with the company andHigh on Life, recent statements made by Squanch Games indicate a firm but sensible approach to the future of the recent title that has appeased many fans.
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The Criminal Charges Against Justin Roiland Explained
Justin Roiland had become an increasingly popular figure within the world of animation over the past decade, and he most famously co-founded the massively popularanimated showRick and Morty. With Roiland also voicing the show’s two eponymous characters, it is no wonder that he so quickly rose to a position of influence and popularity. However, Roiland’s career has recently come to a complete halt due to serious criminal charges that have been pressed against him, with the figure being arrested over felony charges of domestic battery and false imprisonment following a 2020 incident.
WithRoiland potentially facing serious prison timeover these charges, it is no wonder that many of the projects most associated with him are already beginning to distance themselves. For instance,Rick and Mortyhas confirmed that Justin Roiland will no longer have any creative involvement in the show, giving a huge indication as to the severity of the charges made against the voice actor. Roiland’s gaming studio Squanch Games has also confirmed that it has ended creative relations with its founder via his resignation but has done so in a way that allows pre-existing projects to continue to flourish in a tasteful way.
How Squanch Games' Justin Roiland Statement Saves High on Life
In the aforementioned statement aboutRoiland’s departure from Squanch Games, the company went on to clarify that it will keep developing future projects while “continuing to support and improveHigh on Life.” Many are already commending this announcement, as it could have been easy for the company to simply distance itself from the recently released title due to how synonymous Roiland is with the project.
While the resignation was predictable and a good thing for the company, the fact thatHigh on Lifewill continue to be supported preserves the work and legacy of the many talented people who worked on the game across the many other aspects of its development. This not only shows loyalty to players, but crucially ensures that the developers' work is not tarnished by the charges made against Roiland. This move is of course also likely influenced by the massive success of the title, withHigh on Lifedominating the Xbox Game Pass popularity charts.
This statement additionally makes it clear that fans can expectfuture updates and fixes toHigh on Life, and most likely even comprehensive post-launch DLC to further bolster the offered content that the short-but-sweet title has in store. While the recent news regarding Justin Roiland could have been seriously damaging to Squanch Games and its associated projects, the company’s statement indicates a continued and dedicated approach toHigh on Life, thankfully painting a more positive future for the title.
High on Lifeis available on PC, Xbox, and Xbox Series X/S.
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