Return To Monkey Island Petition Surpasses 4,000 Signatures in Support of Ron Gilbert

Return To Monkey Island Petition Surpasses 4,000 Signatures in Support of Ron Gilbert Return to Monkey Island, the highly anticipated sequel to Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, has recently become the center of a strong show of community support following controversy over its updated art style.

Developed by series creator Ron Gilbert in partnership with Lucasfilm Games, the game marks a celebrated return for one of adventure gaming’s most beloved franchises.

Following its announcement, however, Gilbert announced last month that he would step back from public discussion about the project after he and his team faced a wave of personal attacks related to creative decisions. Seeking to counter this negativity, a dedicated fan, Alessio Pianesani, who serves as creative director at Italian media publisher NetAddiction, initiated a petition on change.org to demonstrate support for Gilbert and his vision.

Pianesani, who discovered Monkey Island on the Amiga 500 in 1990, was moved to action by the intensity of the online backlash.

In his statement about the petition, Pianesani emphasized the importance of creative freedom for developers, noting, “Art should be judged and debated, but harassment and hate towards its creators have no place in that discussion.

Our petition is a simple appeal for artists to have the freedom to pursue their vision despite pressures from fans or broader online negativity.” Since its launch, the petition has rapidly gained traction with over 4,000 signatures as of this week, with many signatories leaving messages of encouragement.

One supporter wrote that Monkey Island “helped shape who I am today” and expressed excitement about experiencing a new adventure led by Ron Gilbert.

Another reflected on cherished childhood memories, stating, “Ron, you are a legend and an inspiration to artists everywhere.” Ron Gilbert’s contributions to the gaming industry are widely recognized; the original Monkey Island titles set a high bar for narrative-driven, point-and-click adventures and found new audiences on platforms like the Nintendo Switch through recent eShop releases.

The strong, positive response to the petition is a testament to the series' enduring impact, as well as to the importance of constructive community interaction in the modern gaming landscape. With Return to Monkey Island slated for launch on Nintendo Switch and other platforms, the ongoing support from fans underscores a crucial message: creative vision in game development deserves respect and encouragement.

Initiatives like Pianesani’s petition demonstrate that, even amidst controversy, a large segment of the gaming community is committed to fostering positivity and gratitude toward the developers who create the worlds we love.

Ron Gilbert Return to Monkey Island Monkey Island Lucasfilm Games Nintendo Switch Alessio Pianesani NetAddiction change.org