High on Life 2 is just around the corner, and while its predecessor didn't exactly change the world, it obviously succeeded enough for developer Squanch Games to get the green light for a sequel. Certainly, High on Life's charmingly absurd visual style, fluid gunplay, and Rick and Morty-esque humor helped establish something of a cult following for the 2022 title—only a year before news broke about the abuse and misconduct allegations against Justin Roiland, one of its lead creatives.
Justin Roiland (full name Mark Justin Roiland) was a pillar of the adult animation scene in the 2010s, particularly for his work on Rick and Morty, which he and Dan Harmon co-created in 2012. Roiland was also an executive producer, co-writer, and voice actor for the show's two leads. Needless to say, he was central to the show's initial success. Roiland would still branch out over the years, starting the TV show Solar Opposites, launching the animation studio Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!, and founding Squanchtendo, a VR gaming studio in 2016 that would eventually be rebranded as Squanch Games and develop High on Life. And although Roiland conceptualized the IP and voiced several of the first game's characters, not to mention being responsible for the studio itself, he will not be returning for High on Life 2.
Some content in this article may be disturbing to some.
Justin Roiland's Abuse and False Imprisonment Charges
In 2020, a criminal complaint was filed against Justin Roiland in Orange County, California. The complaint alleges that Roiland had abused and falsely imprisoned a woman (referred to as Jane Doe) in January of that year. In May, Roiland was charged with the following:
- Domestic battery with corporal injury
- False imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud, and/or deceit
By definition, the first charge alleges detailed actions that were intentionally committed against the victim, incurring bodily harm. This makes it different from certain assault charges, which can sometimes apply to threats or even property damage, rather than violence in the traditionally understood sense. The second charge allegedly refers to the entrapment of the victim, preventing them from leaving an area.
Much of the evidence of the case, including relevant surveillance footage, police interviews, and medical reports, remains confidential at this time. The charges were not public knowledge before an NBC report published in 2023. Just a few months after NBC broke the news, the Orange County DA's office announced that it would be dropping the charges against Roiland due to lack of evidence. By this time, Rick and Morty network Adult Swim and Solar Opposites network Hulu had cut ties with Roiland, and Roiland resigned from his position at Squanch Games.
Both Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites would continue in lieu of Roiland's involvement, with the former still on the air at the time of writing.
Roiland has vehemently denied the allegations. After the charges were dropped, he issued a statement on social media wherein he called the accusations "horrible lies" and characterized Jane Doe as an "embittered ex" seeking revenge.
Sexual Misconduct and Assault Allegations Leveled Against Justin Roiland
Shortly after NBC reported Roiland's alleged domestic abuse and false imprisonment charges, The Hollywood Reporter published an exposé on Roiland's behavior in the workplace. It states that a sexual harassment complaint against Roiland was investigated by Cartoon Network (Adult Swim) in 2020, three years before the initial news broke. In Fall 2023, NBC published another report about Roiland, this time featuring allegations made by eleven other people, some of whom claim to have been underage at the time when Roiland engaged with them.
At this time, no charges have been brought against Roiland in connection with these allegations. NBC reportedly reviewed corroborating evidence for two claims: text messages allegedly depicting an apology and an admittance to sexual assault.
Roiland's Involvement in High on Life and Squanch Games Moving Forward
The allegations have had a significant impact on Roiland's presence in the entertainment business. He is not involved in High on Life 2, nor any other Squanch Games properties, for the foreseeable future.
It will be interesting to see how High on Life 2 turns out without Roiland, as his comedy style was on full display in the first game. However, it's worth noting that, for the first High on Life, Roiland is only officially credited for his voice work and as the CEO and co-founder of Squanch Games. He doesn't appear to have actually held a writer or producer position during development.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- February 13, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Squanch Games
- Publisher(s)
- Squanch Games
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve done it. You’ve taken down an intergalactic cartel, brought humanity back from the brink of extinction, and hunted dangerous bounties to the far corners of the galaxy. Bounty hunting has brought you fortune, fame and love; but when a mysterious figure from your past reappears and puts a price on your sister’s head, your cushy life gets thrown into chaos.
Do you have what it takes to risk it all and bring down an intergalactic conspiracy that once again threatens your favorite species (humans)?
High On Life RETURNS as you and your beloved rag-tag team of alien misfits shoot, stab, and skate your way through gorgeous, dangerous worlds all across the galaxy to blow up the EVIL pharmaceutical conglomerate hell-bent on putting price tags on HUMAN LIFE!
- Prequel(s)
- High on Life
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 13, 2026
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 13, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- February 13, 2026
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 80 GB
