Exclusive Insights: Toby Fox Discusses DELTARUNE’s Origins and Switch Release in Nintendo Interview

Undertale creator Toby Fox has opened up about the inspiration and creative process behind his highly acclaimed indie title DELTARUNE in a recent official interview conducted by Nintendo.

The conversation—available in both English and Japanese—delves into the development history, character design choices, and the path to releasing DELTARUNE Chapter 1 on the Nintendo Switch eShop. DELTARUNE, first released on PC, has garnered significant attention for its unique storytelling and memorable cast.

Nintendo facilitated an opportunity for fans to hear directly from Fox, who elaborated on the origins of the game’s concept, its main characters, and what players might anticipate in future chapters. Reflecting on the PC version’s reveal, Toby Fox described a sense of relief, expressing that it was liberating to openly discuss his ongoing projects.

"The best part was finally being able to share what I'm working on," Fox said.

This transparency, according to Fox, allowed him to further engage with the game’s passionate community. Fox traced DELTARUNE’s beginnings to a vivid fever dream he experienced in 2011, during a period of illness while at school.

The dream inspired an ending for a game that lingered in his mind, compelling him to bring the vision to life.

In 2012, Fox attempted to realize this game with character designs by artist Kanotynes, but the project was soon shelved.

Some musical pieces from this early project, such as "Heartache" and "Bonetrousle," would later appear in Undertale, Fox’s breakthrough title.

He shared that following consistent reflection—including during the 2013 Undertale Kickstarter—he resolved to blend Undertale’s style with the concepts glimpsed in his dream, emphasizing, "I need to create what I saw, whether or not it turns out to be as good as I hope." Regarding DELTARUNE’s protagonists, Fox revealed that Kris and Ralsei’s designs came naturally, while Susie underwent significant evolution.

Initially inspired by the character Maya Fey from the Phoenix Wright franchise, Susie was first envisioned as a sassy and friendly sidekick.

Through development, her personality transformed into the more complex and tough character featured in the final game. The interview also touched on magic within DELTARUNE.

Fox disclosed that while some magical abilities were omitted from the first chapter, future developments will explore characters learning and practicing new spells—even if those spells are not immediately useful.

Moments like these, Fox noted, are designed to evoke a sense of warmth and endearment for the characters. Addressing the much-anticipated DELTARUNE Chapter 2, Fox was candid about development progress.

"I've been writing dialogue and music, but programming hasn't started yet, so actual development is still at zero percent," he explained.

Fox humorously compared the situation to a slow internet download that predicts an outlandish completion time.

Though no official release window was announced during the interview, his comments provide fans with a clear picture of the project's status. When asked about the upcoming Nintendo Switch release, Fox expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for trying out the game.

If you enjoyed UNDERTALE, I really hope you enjoy DELTARUNE as well." DELTARUNE Chapter 1 is scheduled to launch as a free download on the Nintendo Switch eShop on February 28, 2019.

This release marks another milestone for Fox and underscores DELTARUNE’s growing legacy among indie game enthusiasts and Nintendo Switch owners alike.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Toby Fox Undertale DELTARUNE Switch eShop Kanotynes Phoenix Wright