Following word that newly-formed publisher Activision Blizzard will not be picking up every Vivendi title in the company's merger transition, developer Double Fine's upcoming heavy metal action title Brutal Legend was seen as a possible casualty.

Now a fresh update to the Double Fine Action News blog has assured fans that the game is in good hands.

Mouse-over text on an image of a dead weevil posted today reads simply, "Brutal Legend is fine." No further details were provided.

Starring Jack Black as a heavy metal roadie forced to battle demons in a fantasy realm, Brutal Legend is being headed up by longtime LucasArts developer Tim Schafer. The third person action game is planned for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Update 2: Developer Double Fine has chimed in on the fate of Brutal Legend, stating that the Jack Black-starring action-adventure title "is fine."

Update: Sierra has assured that Ghosbusters "will not be cancelled", but offered no further details on the title or any of the others believed to be on the chopping block.

Original Story: In the wake of the recently completed Activision Blizzard merger, the company has revealed that only five franchises from Vivendi Games' Sierra portfolio will be making the transition to the newly-formed company's publishing operations.

Endangered titles Brutal Legend (Left) and Ghostbusters (Right).

The titles and franchises confirmed to make the leap include Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Ice Age, Radical Entertainment's Prototype and a yet unannounced title. Those remaining titles formerly slated for publishing deals with Vivendi Games, however, could now be without publishers.

"The only [Vivendi] franchises that Activision Publishing will release are based on Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age and Spyro, as well as Prototype and one other game that has not yet been announced," an Activision Blizzard representative told GameSpot. "We are reviewing our options regarding those titles that we will not be publishing."

The remaining Vivendi Games portfolio includes Double Fine's Brutal Legend, Terminal Reality's and Red Fly's Ghostbusters, A2M's Wet, Starbreeze Studios'... Read more

IGN has a four page interview with Tim Schafer, asking Double Fine's head honcho about his company's third person heavy metal game Brutal Legend.

Update: The first screenshots and concept artwork for Brutal Legend have been released. Double Fine's official site also released a suitably metal photograph (inset) of designer Tim Schafer (pictured right) and Motorhead bassist Lemmy, whose voice is featured in the game.

"The moral of the story is that Brütal Legend is going to be the best f***ing game you have ever played," creator Tim Schafer wrote on the site's news page. "Please be patient, though. It's going to take us a little while to gather up every single piece of awesome there is in the world and put it in this game."

Original Story: Though the gaming populace has already heard the word and seen the trailer, publisher Sierra and developer Double Fine have officially unveiled Brütal Legend (PS3, X360).

According to the press release, the latest from Full Throttle (PC) and Psychonauts (PC, PS2, Xbox) creator Tim Schafer follows "the most righteous and epic fable of massive music, apocalyptic war, and Brütal action... ever." Eddie Riggs, who is based on and voiced by comedy rocker Jack Black, headlines... Read more

Gamers got their first look at Double Fine's latest, the Jack Black-starring Brütal Legend, a few days ago, and now there's a fancy trailer providing one hell of a stage show for the collective eyes and ears of the gaming community.

Coming from Psychonauts (PC, PS2, Xbox) and Grim Fandango (PC) creator Tim Schafer, the tale of a rocking roadie relegated to hell and his awesome adventure to authority is currently in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

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