Bluey creator Joe Brumm and Halfbrick Studios CEO Shainiel Deo have given a rare joint interview to discuss the origins of Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen, a new story-driven video game arriving on December 11 with console and PC versions planned for 2026. The conversation, released exclusively on Bluey TV, highlights how a long-running friendship evolved into a creative partnership that now shapes Bluey’s latest interactive project. Their collaboration is presented as the result of more than a decade of shared ideas, and the tone of the discussion reflects the sense of easy rapport that has guided their work.
The two creators explain that their relationship dates back to 2013. Brumm recalled that after his animated pilot, Dan the Man, went viral, he reached out to Halfbrick, the studio behind Fruit Ninja. At the time, development on a planned Dan the Man game and series had stalled. As Brumm describes it, “I thought, well, I might ring these guys up, these Fruit Ninja guys, they seem to know what they’re doing,” adding that he expected them to be based in Silicon Valley. Instead, they were only a couple of suburbs away, and that unexpected proximity sparked a friendship when Joe called Halfbrick and Deo answered directly.
In the interview, Brumm and Deo reflect on how their creative habits grew out of that early connection. Brumm notes, “We’re still just two blokes who played footy and love making weird and wacky stuff,” while Deo characterizes the new title as “a good old-fashioned game, wholesome, a bit irreverent, and full of fun.” Their comments suggest that the game’s tone reflects their shared enthusiasm for playful experimentation. The pair also discuss the roots of the story, with Brumm stating, “Yeah, he’s me,” when referring to Bandit, acknowledging for the first time that the character is based on himself. Deo adds, “I could see that Joe is writing himself into this story 100 percent.”
The interview also touches on the setting that shaped their careers. Brumm remarks, “Bluey is my visual and moral love letter to Brisbane,” pointing to the city’s blend of laid-back attitude and hard-working culture. They credit this environment with encouraging unconventional ideas, which Brumm links to the creative mechanics of the series. He notes that the game builds on the concept of children’s drawings coming to life, an idea used in popular Bluey episodes such as Dragon and Escape. Deo follows by saying, “The shackles were taken off,” referring to how the drawn worlds opened up new possibilities for prototyping within the game.
Both creators cite classic gaming inspirations as well. Deo references old school Zelda and Mario Odyssey, while Brumm likens the game’s setup to the straightforward quests seen in Commodore 64 platformers. They frame their ambitions around the experience of players and families. As Deo puts it, “This game was part of my childhood… it helped me through these times,” emphasizing why creating memorable experiences motivates him. Brumm echoes this, stating, “I want to see happy kids playing this game… smiling, loving it, showing their friends, telling their parents.”
Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen aims to deliver a warm, adventurous experience for players aged seven and older, offering puzzles, quests, and challenges while maintaining the humor and gentle tone associated with the franchise.
