Smart new dev diary shows how a ‘dumb idea’ became a pillar of High On Life 2
Game development is magic. Smart people put their big brains together, write some stuff on a dry-erase board, and then put it in a computer. Next thing you know, it's a dang video game! Squanch Games has released the first episode in a series of dev diaries that provides even further insight into High On Life 2's creation. The inaugural episode, which debuted at today's PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, focuses on the sequel's all-new skateboarding mechanic – which Chief Creative Officer Mikey Spano calls its "big, scary, risky feature."
High On Life 2's skateboarding started off as a "dumb idea" (game dev lingo), and eventually became an integral part of the experience. It's used as a weapon, for traversal, and as a way for players to enter the all-important flow state. It wasn't easy though, and the feature was put on the chopping block because it was so tough for the team to nail and holy cow I don't know why I am summarizing this whole thing for you. Watch the video! It's like 3 minutes long. You can do it! I have faith in you!
High On Life 2 is launching on Valentine's Day Eve, February 13, 2026, and players can pre-order it now on PlayStation 5, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X and Series S. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can access the game on day one at no additional cost.
Let me know if you have any questions or if you're interested in chatting with the team. I'll do my best to help!
