• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechChange the World

Why a Video Game Called ‘Cuphead’ Is a Big Deal for Microsoft

By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 29, 2017, 4:23 PM ET

It’s been years in the making, but the hotly anticipated video game Cuphead has finally been released.

Cuphead, created by the independent publisher StudioMDHR Entertainment, debuted Friday on Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox One gaming console, Windows 10, and the Steam gaming distribution service.

Brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, who started work on the game in 2010, intended for its visuals to harken back to the animated films of the 1930’s, like old Walt Disney Mickey Mouse cartoons or Fleischer Studios’ Popeye the Sailor and Betty Boop cartoons. Indeed, a trailer of the game resembles the old-timey animations of the past, featuring a spastic bebop-style jazz score.

Cuphead Launch Trailer! https://t.co/PjSOF1Q6DC

— Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) September 29, 2017

The indie gaming studio received an undisclosed amount of funding from Microsoft to develop the game, which was delayed several times over the years. StudioMDHR said several times that the game’s postponements were needed to give them more time to release a non-buggy game that didn’t compromise on their original vision.

With Cuphead being an exclusive Xbox One and Windows title, there are no plans to make the game run on console rivals, like the Sony PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Microsoft is releasing the game as part of its Xbox Play Anywhere program, in which people can buy the game for $20 via the Windows online store and access it on both their PCs and Xbox One. If people buy the game on Steam, they will not be able to play the game on an Xbox One console.

It’s part of Microsoft’s plan to bridge the gap between Windows-based PCs and the company’s flagship Xbox consoles. The company believes it can attract more customers than its rivals by offering the ability to play games that can be accessed on multiple Microsoft-sanctioned devices.

Although it’s unclear if Cuphead will become a blockbuster success like Minecraft that will benefit Microsoft, early reviews have praised the game’s unique visuals and compelling gameplay, although many find it difficult.

“Every screen is a riot of color and motion that I can say without hyperbole is like nothing I’ve ever seen in a game before,” tech publication Ars Technica wrote in a review.

About the Author
By Jonathan Vanian
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jonathan Vanian is a former Fortune reporter. He covered business technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and other topics.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says real problem is fixing, not finding, them
CybersecurityTech
Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says real problem is fixing, not finding, them
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 13, 2026
11 minutes ago
craig piggott
AIAgriculture
After growing up on a dairy farm, this Peter Thiel–backed founder is using AI to save cattle ranching
By Jake AngeloApril 13, 2026
2 hours ago
Luis Von Ahn points.
Workplace CultureLeadership
‘I’m not going to force you’: Duolingo CEO backs off from evaluating employees on their AI usage 
By Jacqueline MunisApril 13, 2026
2 hours ago
Kara Swisher
Successthe future of work
‘It tastes like a Twinkie’: Major tech podcaster Kara Swisher says AI is overhyped for one simple reason—humans don’t like it
By Preston ForeApril 13, 2026
4 hours ago
When AI sells to AI, brands win on data and identity 
Future of WorkCommentary
When AI sells to AI, brands win on data and identity 
By Jarrod MartinApril 13, 2026
7 hours ago
China went from uninvestable to unavoidable—and Hong Kong is cashing in with a slew of AI-centric IPOs
NewslettersTerm Sheet
China went from uninvestable to unavoidable—and Hong Kong is cashing in with a slew of AI-centric IPOs
By Nicholas GordonApril 13, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
Politics
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
2 days ago
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
Economy
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
Real Estate
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
Here's how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. 'This is a big task, and it's a big gamble'
Politics
Here's how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. 'This is a big task, and it's a big gamble'
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sunbelt, soaring in the Rust Belt
Real Estate
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sunbelt, soaring in the Rust Belt
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
2 days ago
‘Almost unmanageable’: Raising a child in the U.S. now costs more than $300,000
Economy
‘Almost unmanageable’: Raising a child in the U.S. now costs more than $300,000
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.