Team Meat’s Tommy Refenes explains the duo’s split

Only Meat Boy is forever

The story behind Super Meat Boy was a real underdog tale. Creators Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes had immense pressure to make the game a success and weren’t given much help from the likes of Microsoft on promoting the game. Due to extremely positive word of mouth, the game ended up being a success and set the indie game craze into motion.

You’d think such an experience would bond friends together for life, but apparently that isn’t the case. For some reason, McMillen and Refenes parted ways sometime after the cancellation of Mewgenics. This past weekend, Eurogamer interviewed Refenes on the upcoming Super Meat Boy Forever𓄧 and finally got some 🏅answers as to why the duo separated.

As Tommy puts it:

It’s one of those things. It was a giant part of my life but people grow, people change, your views on things change. And unfortunately sometimes people just grow in different directions. It’s a natural thing. It’s something you could sit and be angry about but it doesn’t get you anywhere…

The way I feel is similar in that I’m happy as hell to be working on Super Meat Boy Forever and as far as work happiness goes, I’m right back where I was during the non-stressful parts of Super Meat Boy development back in 2009-2010. I’m not happy about the loss of a partner, I’m happy that everything feels fresh new and important again. I love seeing people react to things I’ve created and I haven’t felt that in a long time.

I don’t regret anything – even the things I think I would change, I don’t regret, because I’m way happier. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know I am.

Honestly, it’s just people grow in different directions. I think stuff’s going pretty well for both of us – and ultimately that’s good for everybody. More games are good.

While that is sad to hear, it is a very reasonable explanation. I doubt there was any kind of drama or anger behind the scenes. Edmund started to gain traction on his own through The Binding of Isaac and probably dedicated more time to that game than any Team Meat productions. It makes sense and it’s pointless to hold a grudge when someone is just trying to make a living. All we can do is accept this and move on.

[Eurogamer]