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Developer Conner Rush recently released Project Songbird, a horror title exploring themes of loss. Interviewed on June 30, 2026, Rush emphasized his commitment to artistic freedom over commercial trends, noting he feels fortunate to pursue projects he loves without needing them to be his primary income source.
The game’s development involved significant personal sacrifice, including working as an Uber driver and living with his father to fund voice acting, such as hiring Valerie Rose Lohman. Rush, who began experimenting with Unity as a child, prioritized these creative goals while he still had the resources to do so.
A major milestone for Rush was securing a physical release for Project Songbird. This was a long-held dream inspired by his childhood experiences with PlayStation 2 titles like Kingdom Hearts 2. He managed to achieve this launch just before Sony’s July 1, 2026, announcement regarding the end of physical discs.
Project Songbird recouped its investment on its first day and currently holds an 84% positive rating on Steam. Despite this success, Rush remains uncertain about his future in game development, citing the financial instability of the industry and a desire to keep his passion separate from his full-time career.
