Devolver Digital, the video game publisher behind Fall Guys, Loop Hero, and Hotline Miami, tweeted a photo that fans have been meticulously analyzing for clues as to what the company will unveil at this year's E3. The tweet shows Devolver Digital's recurring character Nina Struthers sitting at a desk, holding a feathery pen and surrounded by post-it notes. In the background of the image on a whiteboard, though, the company included a possible teaser for news about the Hotline Miami series.
On the whiteboard, the blurry words "HOTLINE MIAMI" are barely legible, and are followed by what appears to be the number 3. Beneath the top line are another two words that are not quite as legible as the top row. Fans of the Hotline Miami series have had little to look forward to since the release of Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number in 2015 – while the tweet does not confirm anything concrete, it's one of the few times Devolver Digital has teased anything about the series in years.
RELATED: Devolver Digital Valued at $1.4 Billion Ahead of Initial Public Offering
Dennaton Games, the two-person game development studio behind Hotline Miami and its sequel, has refuted many rumors over the years about the possibility of a third entry in the series. Dennaton intended Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number to be the conclusion to the franchise, partly because it wrapped up many of the enigmatic story details from the first game. Fans of the series are nonetheless excited about the possibility of news, though, especially considering one of Dennaton Games' heads teased a "passion project" earlier this year.
Devolver Digital has become well-known for its off-the-wall E3 presentations each year. In 2017, the company introduced the character of Nina Struthers, the "Chief Synergy Officer" for Devolver Digital, who began the presentation by shooting a gun into the air, and at the end of the presentation, her head exploded. In 2018, Devolver began its E3 press conference with Nina Struthers breaking the neck of the "company CEO," and in 2019 released a presentation that more closely resembled a psychological horror movie than a video game publisher show.
Devolver's E3 shows are certainly unique, and it wouldn't be out of place for the company to hype up fans of Hotline Miami for a third entry in the series with a hidden tease such as this. However, the company's penchant for meta humor could mean that this tweet does not tease a new entry at all, but rather teases an announcement related to the series. For example in 2019, Devolver Digital released Devolver Bootleg, a collection of low-res "bootleg" versions of its popular games, including "Hotline Milwaukee."
Devolver Digital will be premiering its 2021 Devolver Digital Direct E3 Presentation on June 12.
MORE: Nintendo Needs The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 at E3 2021