Slay the Spire 2, the follow-up to a smash hit that spawned innumerable deckbuilding roguelikes was finally revealed to the world on April 10, 2024. The developers, Mega Crit, have been working on the sequel for roughly two years. But something fascinating happened several months before the first trailer dropped. On September 13, 2023, Mega Crit made a bold announcement: Slay the Spire 2 would cease being developed in Unity and migrate to a new engine. We would eventually learn that the game was engineered using Godot.
Changing course and swapping engines is uncommon in game development, even for an indie studio. Refactoring integral chunks of code is time-consuming. Depending on language limitations, you may have to restart your work from the ground up. Even with a talented group of programmers, this could add years to timeframes. All of this is to say that Mega Crit’s decision to switch to Godot for Slay the Spire 2 was not minuscule. So, what initiated this sudden sea change?
The Unity Debacle And Slay the Spire 2’s Protest
Unity Technologies announced on September 12, 2023, that it would implement “Runtime Fees” to its widely-used game engine. To briefly summarize, games developed in Unity would incur charges (in effect, royalties) on their creators after meeting certain installation and revenue thresholds. These thresholds differ based on the kind of license the user has. This sparked a public outcry from game developers who worried about the potential financial impact on their creations. Many argued that these fees were counterproductive as they effectively punished success. It is worth noting that Unity Technologies would later alter course after widespread outrage. That did little to stem the tide of developers who sought alternatives.
Mega Crit posted on X the day after the unveiling of the Runtime Fee and excoriated Unity for this new fee structure. This was unusual, given that they had never issued a public statement before. In their post, they announced that Slay the Spire 2 would be moving to a new engine out of protest. As stated earlier, it would turn out that this engine is Godot.
What Is Godot?
Godot is a free, open-source game engine that was created by Juan Linietsky and Ariel Manzur. It was originally released on January 14, 2014, though its history stretches far beyond that. Godot’s main language is GDScript, a variation of Python that is highly integrated into the software’s internal IDE. However, the engine also supports the use of other languages, including C# and C++. Godot allows the creation of both 2D and 3D games, though the latter is somewhat limited compared to other engines. Projects made in the engine can be exported to desktop and mobile devices (it does not officially support console exports yet, though they can be ported through third-party companies).
Beyond it being free to use, part of Godot’s appeal is its dedicated community. The engine is financially supported through donations that are mediated by the non-profit Godot Foundation. Godot is well-known for its extensive documentation and resources for beginners. Its node-based system has a learning curve but quickly becomes intuitive. It is an especially good engine for those seeking to produce small indie games. With all these positives in mind, what can Slay the Spire 2 offer Godot?
Godot’s Potential With Slay the Spire 2
One of Godot’s major weaknesses is the lack of high-profile games developed using the engine. It has produced some memorable titles, such as Brotato and Cassette Beasts. Sonic Colors: Ultimate was also at least partly made with Godot. However, a highly anticipated game like Slay the Spire 2 could drastically raise the stock value of the little engine that could. Should this sequel be successful, it may spur other prominent studios to recognize the potential of Godot. That may lead to more features, wider audiences, and greater freedoms for independent developers.
Slay the Spire 2’s early access is set to release in 2025, a year loaded with roguelike goodies. It will initially be available on PC, macOS, and Linux. As with the original game, console ports are likely to follow.
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