Expanding the Scope
While the initial teaser for High on Life’s first DLC, High on Knife, showcased a dark and spooky tone, the decision to venture into horror-comedy started as a joke. Squanch Games’ Chief Creative Officer, Mikey Spano, explained that the team had always joked about turning High on Life into a horror game. When the opportunity for a DLC arose, they saw it as the perfect chance to explore this different style.
The DLC promises a mix of scary and funny moments, with Design Director Erich Meyr confirming that it’s “not the whole DLC”. It’s a “50/50 funny and scary” experience, aiming to spoof the horror genre while staying true to the humor fans expect.
High on Knife expands beyond the base game, featuring 52 new characters. The initial announcement featured a gun named Harper, voiced by Sarah Sherman from SNL, and a pinball gun named B.A.L.L., voiced by Alec Robbins, the narrative director of High on Life.
Another new character, Mux, a goopy boss, is voiced by Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe. Squanch was initially surprised when Sidibe expressed interest in the role, as they considered it a “long shot”. However, she brought her dramatic skills to the role, with Spano noting that she “nailed” some of the more dramatic scenes.
The Future of High on Life
The success of High on Life, which had the biggest third-party launch for Xbox Game Pass in 2022, has encouraged Squanch Games to explore the world further. With a backlog of ideas and a willingness to continue telling the story, they plan to explore more storylines, characters, and even new gameplay features.
The departure of Justin Roiland, who previously voiced Kenny, won’t impact their future plans. Spano views Roiland’s involvement as a “side piece” and sees no need to work with him again. They’re also eager to explore different genres within the High on Life universe, with the medieval fantasy genre being casually mentioned.
While the future of High on Life depends on the success of High on Knife, the team is excited about the potential to continue expanding this world. The DLC’s reception will determine the direction they take, with the possibility of further DLCs or other projects in the pipeline. They remain committed to delivering fresh content and expanding on the unique universe they’ve created.
Leave a Reply