Toby Fox
{{Short description|American video game designer and composer (born 1991)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption =
| other_names = {{hlist|Radiation|FwugRadiation}}
| birth_name = Robert F. Fox
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|11}}
| birth_place = Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Video game developer|composer}}
| years active = 2008–present
| alma_mater = Northeastern University
| works = Undertale, Deltarune
| website = {{URL|https://toby.fangamer.com}}
{{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20151119075030/http://tobyfox.net/|tobyfox.net}} (archived)
}}
Robert F. "Toby" Fox (born October 11, 1991) is an American video game developer and composer. He is best known for developing the role-playing video game Undertale, which garnered acclaim and has received nominations for a British Academy Game Award, three Game Awards and D.I.C.E. Awards. He is also the creator and head of the ongoing development of Deltarune, which contains many characters and features from Undertale, and has garnered significant praise.
Fox's early work consisted primarily of composing music, notably for the webcomic Homestuck. Following the success of Undertale, he went on to compose music for a number of other indie games. Other notable works include contributing to the soundtracks of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the Pokémon video games.
Early life
Robert F. Fox{{cite web |last=Hayward |first=Mark |date=December 6, 2020 |title=City Matters: Secretive NH game designer created Undertale video game |url=https://www.unionleader.com/voices/city_matters/city-matters-secretive-nh-game-designer-created-undertale-video-game/article_ef527592-4b1a-5402-8393-944173180028.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622105128/https://www.unionleader.com/voices/city_matters/city-matters-secretive-nh-game-designer-created-undertale-video-game/article_ef527592-4b1a-5402-8393-944173180028.html |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=New Hampshire Union Leader}}{{cite web |title=WebVoyage Titles |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=2&ti=1,2&Search%5FArg=undertale&Search%5FCode=TALL&CNT=25&PID=2GBPDlE9V8lZU7vODNZ89kFfz&SEQ=20220108095355&SID=1 |access-date=2022-01-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108145429/https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=2&ti=1%2C2&Search_Arg=undertale&Search_Code=TALL&CNT=25&PID=2GBPDlE9V8lZU7vODNZ89kFfz&SEQ=20220108095355&SID=1 | archive-date=2022-01-08 |website=cocatalog.loc.gov}} was born on October 11, 1991,{{cite tweet |last=Fox |first=Toby |user=tobyfox |number=918137771595829250 |date=October 11, 2017 |title=It's my 26th birthday. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831161836/https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/918137771595829250 |archive-date=2018-08-31 |url-status=live}} in Manchester, New Hampshire. Along with his three brothers, he is the son of Robert Fox, a financial planner, and Barbara Fox, a retired paraprofessional.{{clarify|a paraprofessional what?|date=January 2025}} Fox was raised an Episcopalian. He studied environmental science at Northeastern University and graduated in 2014.
Career
= Inspiration =
Fox has stated that as a child, he was mesmerised by the music and atmosphere of Final Fantasy VI. Other Japanese role-playing games, such as EarthBound, Secret of Mana and Super Mario RPG served as major inspirations; Fox looked up to Yoko Shimomura's works in particular. Her song "Megalomania" for the game Live A Live was particularly inspiring for Fox, and he originally intended to use an EarthBound-themed cover of the song in a game, but he got tired of transcribing it and eventually made a new song called "Megalovania".{{Cite web |title=LIVE A LIVE: a conversation between Yoko Shimomura and Toby Fox - part 1 {{!}} Square Enix Blog |url=https://www.square-enix-games.com/es_XL/news/live-a-live-yoko-shimomura-toby-fox-pt-1 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=square-enix-games.com |language=es}}
In middle school, he discovered the Touhou Project series when he downloaded the demos for the sixth and seventh games in the series. He played a piano rendition of the Touhou Project track "Necrofantasia" at his church's summer camp. He was inspired by Touhou's philosophy of not giving up on a game simply to hear the music.{{Cite web |last=実存 |date=2018-10-19 |title=『UNDERTALE』トビー・フォックス×『東方』ZUN×Onion Games木村祥朗鼎談──自分が幸せでいられる道を進んだらこうなった──同人の魂、インディーの自由を大いに語る |url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/181019 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=電ファミニコゲーマー – ゲームの面白い記事読んでみない？ |language=ja}} Fox later conducted an improvised Touhou music session on Tumblr, in which he created "improvised Touhou music that doesn't actually exist" including a boss track named An Apple Disaster.{{Cite web |last=fwugradiation |title=toby |url=https://fwugradiation.tumblr.com/post/13528293577/improvised-touhou-music-with-annoying-commentary |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Tumblr}}
= Early work =
Toby Fox's earliest well-known work is the EarthBound Halloween Hack,{{Cite web|title=EarthBound Halloween Hack! « EarthBound Central|url=https://earthboundcentral.com/2009/10/earthbound-halloween-hack/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=earthboundcentral.com|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214011040/https://earthboundcentral.com/2009/10/earthbound-halloween-hack/|url-status=dead}} a Halloween-themed ROM hack of EarthBound, which released in 2008. He then moved on to compose a variety of music for Andrew Hussie's 2009 webcomic Homestuck during his senior year of high school. Though he did not initially respond when Hussie started a Music Contribution Team in April 2009 and put up a news post asking composers to participate, Hussie took note of his work when Fox started uploading piano covers of the webcomic's music on the MS Paint Adventures forums.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/24/3780850/land-of-memes-and-trolls-the-epic-and-ridiculous-self-aware-world-of |website=Polygon |publisher=Vox Media |title=Land of Memes and Trolls: The Epic and Ridiculous Self-Aware World of Homestuck |last=Funk |first=John |date=October 15, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520212927/http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/24/3780850/land-of-memes-and-trolls-the-epic-and-ridiculous-self-aware-world-of |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}
Fox created a majority of Homestuck
= ''Undertale'' =
{{main|Undertale|l1=Undertale}}
Fox's most well-known work is the 2015 role-playing video game Undertale, which he also composed the soundtrack for. The game sold more than 1 million copies,{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/04/13/stardew-valley-is-one-of-the-best-selling-pc-games-of-the-year-as-it-surpasses-1m-copies-sold/ |title=Stardew Valley is one of the best-selling PC games of the year as it surpasses 1M copies sold |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |website=GamesBeat |publisher=VentureBeat |date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420121945/http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/13/stardew-valley-is-one-of-the-best-selling-pc-games-of-the-year-as-it-surpasses-1m-copies-sold/ |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}} becoming a "breakout hit" and "pop-culture phenomenon".Multiple sources:
- {{cite web |url=http://cliqist.com/2015/09/29/undertale-new-cult-hit-making/ |title=Undertale: A New Cult Hit in the Making |last=Levine |first=Laguna |website=CliQist |date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223171643/http://cliqist.com/2015/09/29/undertale-new-cult-hit-making/ |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web |url=http://remeshed.com/2015/undertale-won-internet/ |title=Why Undertale Won the Internet |last=McDonald |first=Mariko |website=Remeshed.com |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063211/http://remeshed.com/2015/undertale-won-internet/ |url-status=dead}}
- {{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2015/12/17/undertale-elu-meilleur-jeu-video-de-l-histoire-a-la-surprise-generale_4833951_4408996.html |title=Undertale, élu " meilleur jeu vidéo de l'histoire " à la surprise générale |last=Audureau |first=William |newspaper=LeMonde.fr |date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812222314/http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2015/12/17/undertale-elu-meilleur-jeu-video-de-l-histoire-a-la-surprise-generale_4833951_4408996.html |url-status=live}}
- {{cite web |url=http://completegamereviews.com/will-define-undertales-legacy/ |title=How Will We Define Undertale's Legacy? |last=Abbott |first=Josh |website=Complete Game Reviews |date=February 21, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142104/http://completegamereviews.com/will-define-undertales-legacy/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.designntrend.com/articles/66980/20151219/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-undertale-best-game-ever-mad.htm |title='The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time' Falls To 'Undertale' As Best Game Ever, Gamers Get Mad! |last=Groux |first=Christopher |website=Design & Trend |date=December 19, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823190433/http://www.designntrend.com/articles/66980/20151219/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-undertale-best-game-ever-mad.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |url-status=dead}}
- {{cite news |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/toby-foxs-cult-classic-undertale-coming-nintendo-switch/ |title=Toby Fox's Cult Classic Undertale Coming to Nintendo Switch |date=2018-03-08 |work=DualShockers |access-date=2018-11-06 |language=en-US |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328120448/https://www.dualshockers.com/toby-foxs-cult-classic-undertale-coming-nintendo-switch/ |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/31/18047410/undertale-spinoff-sequel-deltarune-toby-fox |title=Cult RPG Undertale gets a surprise spinoff for Halloween |work=The Verge |access-date=2018-11-06 |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031151031/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/31/18047410/undertale-spinoff-sequel-deltarune-toby-fox |url-status=live}}
- {{cite news |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/281395/Undertale_dev_reflects_on_what_its_like_to_have_your_game_become_a_phenomenon.php |work=Gamasutra |title=Undertale dev reflects on what it's like to have your game become a phenomenon |last=Wawro |first=Alex |access-date=2017-08-02 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803052141/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/281395/Undertale_dev_reflects_on_what_its_like_to_have_your_game_become_a_phenomenon.php |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |df=mdy-all}} Fox worked on the entire game independently, besides the art assets—which he asked Temmie (Tuyoki) Chang to help with—to avoid relying on others.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2015/10/15/gi-show-_1320_-yoshis-woolly-world_2c00_-star-wars_3a00_-battlefront_2c00_-undertale-toby-fox.aspx |title=GI Show – Yoshi's Woolly World, Star Wars: Battlefront, Undertale's Toby Fox |last=Turi |first=Tim |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130192250/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2015/10/15/gi-show-_1320_-yoshis-woolly-world_2c00_-star-wars_3a00_-battlefront_2c00_-undertale-toby-fox.aspx |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} He had some experience in game development before Undertale, using RPG Maker 2000 with his three brothers to make role-playing games and EarthBound ROM hacks in high school,{{cite interview |url=https://meloshantani.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/toby-foxs-undertale-dev-2-dev-interview-1/ |title=Toby Fox's Undertale – DEV 2 DEV INTERVIEW #1 |last=Han-Tani |first=Melos |website=ambient-melodic |date=May 25, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808085010/https://meloshantani.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/toby-foxs-undertale-dev-2-dev-interview-1/ |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-making-of-undertale/ |title=The making of Undertale |date=May 5, 2018 |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=PC Gamer |last=Schilling |first=Chris |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090348/https://www.pcgamer.com/the-making-of-undertale/ |url-status=live}} the most notable of which was Earthbound: The Halloween Hack.{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/earthbound-the-halloween-hack/ |title=Earthbound (The Halloween Hack) – Hardcore Gaming 101 |website=www.hardcoregaming101.net |language=en-US |access-date=2018-11-04 |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105061806/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/earthbound-the-halloween-hack/ |url-status=live}} He thought of the character designs and ideas for Undertale while in college, where he drew them in his notebook.{{cite news |url=http://kotaku.com/undertale-creator-shares-notebook-full-of-early-concept-1790978697 |title=Undertale Creator Shares Notebook Full Of Early Concepts And Art |last=Alexandra |first=Heather |work=Kotaku |access-date=2017-08-02 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085421/http://kotaku.com/undertale-creator-shares-notebook-full-of-early-concept-1790978697 |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}
File:Annoying dog face.svg of the "Annoying Dog" from Undertale, which is a self-insertion of Fox]]
Following its release, Undertale garnered an extensive fanbase.{{cite news |url=http://steamed.kotaku.com/undertale-creator-its-ok-if-people-dislike-the-game-1751013241 |title=Undertale Creator: It's OK If People Dislike The Game |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |work=Steamed |access-date=2017-08-02 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085710/http://steamed.kotaku.com/undertale-creator-its-ok-if-people-dislike-the-game-1751013241 |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |df=mdy-all}} Fox commented that he did not mind if people stated that they did not like the game, saying that it was "not for everyone". Despite Undertale{{'}}s awards and widespread acclaim, Fox wrote that his personal opinion was that the game was still "niche" and deserved an "8/10" review score.{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/15/undertale-launched-a-year-ago-today/ |title=8/10: Undertale Dev Reflects On Unexpected Popularity |last=O'Connor |first=Alice |date=2016-09-15 |website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en-US |access-date=2017-08-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803045451/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/15/undertale-launched-a-year-ago-today/ |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Toby |date=2016 |title=Retrospective on UNDERTALE's Popularity |url=https://undertale.tumblr.com/post/150397346860/retrospective-on-undertales-popularity |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Tumblr |language=en-US |quote=It’s about an 8/10, niche RPG game.}}
In 2016, Fox released a number of unused musical tracks from Undertale.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/09/16/undertale-creator-releases-unused-music-to-celebrate-1-year-anniversary |title=Undertale Creator Releases Unused Music to Celebrate 1-Year Anniversary |last=O'Brien |first=Lucy |date=2016-09-15 |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=2017-08-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803051641/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/09/16/undertale-creator-releases-unused-music-to-celebrate-1-year-anniversary |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |df=mdy-all}} He also became a contributor to the A Profound Waste of Time magazine.{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/ashly-burch-toby-fox-and-mike-z-join-the-profound-waste-of-time-team-404852.phtml |title=Ashly Burch, Toby Fox and Mike Z join the Profound Waste of Time team |website=Destructoid |date=December 15, 2016 |language=en |access-date=2017-08-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527074841/https://www.destructoid.com/ashly-burch-toby-fox-and-mike-z-join-the-profound-waste-of-time-team-404852.phtml |archive-date=May 27, 2017 |df=mdy-all}} Fox was then chosen to be part of the 2018 Games Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his role in creating Undertale; by then the game had sold over 2 million copies.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/toby-fox/ |title=Toby Fox |website=Forbes |language=en |access-date=2017-12-03 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203153955/https://www.forbes.com/profile/toby-fox/ |url-status=live}}
The success of Undertale, especially in Japan, afforded Fox the opportunity to visit Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai at his home, where they discussed the series and played Super Smash Bros. Ultimate against each other, and the two reportedly had a very similar skill level, trading wins and losses equally. Sans, a character from Undertale, was later included in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a Mii costume available through downloadable content, along with an instrumental composition "Megalovania", for which Fox provided a new arrangement.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPh3HM6ofWU&t=21m16s |title=Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Mr. Sakurai Presents "Banjo & Kazooie" |work=YouTube |date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-14 |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901173651/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPh3HM6ofWU&t=21m16s |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/undertales-sans-joins-smash-bros-as-a-mii-fighter-cost-1837885342 |title=Undertale's Sans Joins Smash Bros. As A Mii Fighter Costume |last=Walker |first=Ian |date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-04 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190905050610/https://kotaku.com/undertales-sans-joins-smash-bros-as-a-mii-fighter-cost-1837885342 |url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet |number=1169387070529429504 |user=tobyfox |title=Yes. It's true. You'll be able to buy a Mii Gunner costume of Sans in Smash Brothers Ultimate later today! It'll come with a special arrangement of Megalovania composed by me. It's a huge honor to have something I created in Smash. Thank you so much Mr. Sakurai!!! |first=Toby |last=Fox |date=2019-09-04 |access-date=2024-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918084327/https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1169387070529429504 |archive-date=2019-09-18 |url-status=live}}
= ''Deltarune'' =
{{main|Deltarune|l1=Deltarune}}
On October 30, 2018, Fox tweeted a request for fans of Undertale to check the game's official Twitter account in 24 hours. The following day, Fox released the first chapter of the followup to Undertale, named Deltarune, (an anagram of "undertale") for free under the guise of a "survey".{{cite web|last=Allegra|first=Frank|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/31/18044640/deltarune-free-download-undertale-game |title=Undertale creator's new game is Deltarune, a mysterious surprise |website=Polygon |date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=2018-11-01 |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015346/https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/31/18044640/deltarune-free-download-undertale-game |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/01/deltarune-chapter-1-undertale-sequel/ |title=Deltarune Chapter 1 is the free and surprising start of a new Undertale saga |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=2018-11-01 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502154830/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/01/deltarune-chapter-1-undertale-sequel/ |url-status=live}} On November 1, Fox shared more details regarding the game, including that the rest of the chapters were expected to release simultaneously, but work had not yet started, and there was no estimated timeframe for completion.{{cite news |url=https://apptrigger.com/2018/11/01/deltarune-toby-fox-full-release-plans/ |title=Deltarune creator Toby Fox talks full release plans, upscaling |date=2018-11-01 |work=App Trigger |access-date=2018-11-13 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113165754/https://apptrigger.com/2018/11/01/deltarune-toby-fox-full-release-plans/ |url-status=live}} Fox also stated that he had been working on the project since 2012, and that the idea for Undertale developed from Deltarune during production.{{Cite tweet |number=1058382742260498433 |user=tobyfox |title=The idea of "I want to make an RPG" turned into UNDERTALE and the original idea I had transformed into DELTARUNE as I was making UNDERTALE. |first=Toby |last=Fox |date=2018-11-02 |access-date=2024-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227034243/https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1058382742260498433 |archive-date=2018-12-27 |url-status=live}} On June 12, 2019, as only the first chapter of Deltarune had been playable for several months, Fox expressed on his Twitter account he had hope he would complete the rest of Deltarune, saying: "Slowly I'm writing and drawing it all out."{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1138835212425682945 |title=Deltarune update from creator's Twitter counter |work=Twitter |access-date=2019-06-12 |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214183924/https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1138835212425682945 |url-status=live}} He stated that he had written "about 50 songs past Chapter 1".{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1138825844728709123 |title=Deltarune update from creator's Twitter counter |work=Twitter |access-date=2019-06-12 |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615031127/https://twitter.com/tobyfox/status/1138825844728709123 |url-status=live}}
On September 17, 2021, Fox released the second chapter of Deltarune for free since "the world has been really tough for everybody recently", referring to the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic. He plans to release the next two chapters, bundled in with the first two, at a $25 USD price point on June 5, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=2023-10-31 |title=Deltarune Will Be Released Once Chapter 4 Is Done, Toby Fox Confirms |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/deltarune-will-be-released-once-chapter-4-is-done-toby-fox-confirms |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=DELTARUNE Chapters 3 and 4 to launch in 2025 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/10/deltarune-chapters-3-and-4-to-launch-in-2025 |website=Gematsu |access-date=14 November 2024 |date=31 October 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2025-04-02 |title=Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 Are Launching Alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 in June |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/deltarune-chapters-3-and-4-are-launching-alongside-the-nintendo-switch-2-in-june |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=IGN |language=en}}
= Composing =
Fox has composed music for the 2017 Homestuck video game Hiveswap, Undertale artist Temmie Chang's short narrative game Escaped Chasm,{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/04/02/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-short-from-undertales-temie-chang/ |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |title=Escaped Chasm is a short, sad, free story by Undertale's artist |last=Tarason |first=Dominic |date=2019-04-02 |access-date=2019-05-02 |df=mdy-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405232954/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/04/02/escaped-chasm-is-a-free-short-from-undertales-temie-chang/ |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |url-status=live}} and Game Freak's 2019 RPG Little Town Hero, the last of which was arranged by Pokémon composer Hitomi Sato. He also composed a track for Pokémon Sword and Shield,{{cite web |last=Goslin |first=Austen |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/1/20943435 |title=Undertale developer is composing a song for Pokémon Sword and Shield |work=Polygon |date=November 1, 2019 |access-date=October 10, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328084339/https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/1/20943435/undertale-developer-music-toby-fox-pokemon-sword-and-shield |url-status=live}} a vocal song for Itoki Hana's PRAY album,{{cite tweet |last=Fox |first=Toby |user=tobyfox |number=1026500164217962498 |date=August 6, 2018 |title=I composed a vocal song for my friend @1t0lc1 (Itoki Hana's) new album, PRAY.}} and multiple tracks for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.{{cite tweet|number=1532038920183205888|user=tobyfox|title=I had the honor of composing the field music for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet! After creating a concept sketch, Game Freak arranged it into many versions that you'll hear throughout the game. You can hear a bit of it in this trailer...|date=June 1, 2022}}{{cite tweet|number=1532039019634229248|user=tobyfox|title=A few more Toby Fox tracks will appear in the game, too, so please look forward to those! This time, my music is not optional!!!|date=June 1, 2022}} He also remixed Ed Sheeran's "Celestial" for Scarlet and Violet{{'}}s expansion The Indigo Disk.{{cite web |last1=Nightingale |first1=Ed |title=Toby Fox remixes Ed Sheeran for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC The Indigo Disk |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/toby-fox-remixes-ed-sheeran-for-pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-dlc-the-indigo-disk |website=Eurogamer |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en |date=15 December 2023}}
In 2024, he partnered with Japanese game developer ZUN for the game Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, which included a track that combined the Touhou song "U.N - Owen Was Her?" with the Undyne battle song "Battle Against a True Hero" from Undertale as "U.N. - Owen Was Hero?".{{Cite web |title=Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost - Toby Fox & ZUN "U.N. Owen Was Hero?" |url=https://kotaku.com/games/touhou-danmaku-kagura-phantasia-lost-toby-fox-and-zun-u-dot-n-owen-was-hero |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Kotaku |language=en}} In September of the same year, he announced a new partnership for the same game on YouTube. The video contains a very brief preview of the song, which appears to be based on "Megalovania".{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=New 'Touhou' Rhythm Game Mixes Bullet Hell, Falling-Notes And Toby Fox Tunes |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/09/new-touhou-rhythm-game-mixes-bullet-hell-falling-notes-and-toby-fox-tunes |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Fox is secretive and does not typically do interviews.{{cite web |url=http://existentialgamer.com/interview-toby-fox-of-undertale |title=INTERVIEW: TOBY FOX OF UNDERTALE |last=Feeld |first=Julian |website=Existential Gamer |publisher=Feeld |date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151117161517/http://existentialgamer.com/interview-toby-fox-of-undertale |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=dead}} He has chronic wrist and hand pain that regularly disables him from programming and composing. In September 2020, Fox cited a flareup of this pain as a factor in the delayed development of Deltarune{{'s}} second chapter.{{cite web |url=https://undertale.com/deltarune-update-092020/ |title=DELTARUNE Status Update – September 2020 |date=September 15, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120033544/https://undertale.com/deltarune-update-092020/ |url-status=live}}
Works
= Ludography=
== Guest composer only ==
- Hiveswap Friendsim (2018){{cite web |title=Hiveswap Friendsim, by James Roach |url=https://homestuck.bandcamp.com/album/hiveswap-friendsim |website=Bandcamp |access-date=30 January 2024 |language=en}}
- YIIK: A Postmodern RPG (2019){{cite web |last1=Boudreau |first1=Ian |title=New games: YIIK is a weird JRPG set in the postmodern '90s, built on loss |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/yiik/new-games-yiik-release-date |website=PCGamesN |access-date=30 January 2024 |date=13 January 2019}}
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2019) - DLC only
- Pesterquest (2019){{cite web |url=https://jamesroachmusic.tumblr.com/post/189479481402/yeah-it-is-the-title-is-meant-to-answer-the |website=tumblr |quote=the title is meant to answer the question you ask while listening 'is this... megalovania?' then you go and check the track in the credits and it gives you your answer. |title='yeah, it is' |last=Roach |first=James |access-date=2023-08-20 |date=2019-12-04 |archive-date=2023-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820165253/https://jamesroachmusic.tumblr.com/post/189479481402/yeah-it-is-the-title-is-meant-to-answer-the |url-status=live }}
- Pokémon Sword and Shield (2019)
- Omori (2020) - jukebox music only{{Cite AV media notes | title = OMORI GINO'S JUKEBOX | type = Liner notes | publisher = OMOCAT}}
- beatmania IIDX 30 RESIDENT (2022){{cite web |title=Beatmania IIDX 30 Resident Will Come With a New Toby Fox Song |url=https://www.siliconera.com/beatmania-iidx-30-resident-will-come-with-a-new-toby-fox-song/ |website=Siliconera |access-date=30 January 2024 |date=5 August 2022}}
- Mr. Saitou (2023){{cite web |last1=Macgregor |first1=Jody |title=This single-serving Ghibli-esque adventure about work and worms will warm your heart |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/this-single-serving-ghibli-esque-adventure-about-work-and-worms-will-warm-your-heart/ |website=PC Gamer |access-date=30 January 2024 |language=en |date=22 March 2023}}
- Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost (2024){{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost for PC launches February 8, 2024 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/08/touhou-danmaku-kagura-phantasia-lost-for-pc-launches-february-8-2024 |website=Gematsu |access-date=30 January 2024 |date=7 August 2023}}
- Fields of Mistria (2024){{cite news |title=Fields of Mistria - Official Trailer |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/fields-of-mistria-official-trailer-wholesome-direct-2023 |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=IGN |date=June 10, 2023}}
- Chunithm Verse (2024)
= Other credits =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" |Year !Media type ! scope="col" |Media title ! scope="col" |Role !Notes !{{Refh}} |
| 2009–2016
|Composer | |
| 2010
|Album |The Baby is You |Writer, composer, vocalist |Album made for Homestuck |
| 2012
|Album |I Miss You - EarthBound 2012 |Composer | |
| 2012
|Website |tane.us |Guest arrangement |Metronomy - Black Eye Burnt Thumb (Toby "Radiation" Fox CHIP MIX) |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Album |PRAY |Guest composer, lyricist and vocalist | |
| Video game
|Black Bird |Game testing | |
| rowspan="2" | 2020
|Comic |Hobonichi Mother Project "Pollyanna" comic |Contributor | |
| Music video
|Chip Tanaka/Hammerhead Shark Song |Director/animator (music video) | |
| rowspan="2" |2021
|Video game |Credited for providing guest items and stories | |
| Song
|"Myths You Forgot" |Featured artist | |
| 2022
|Album |"Skies Forever Blue" |Composer, writer |In collaboration with Itoki Hana |
| rowspan="4" |2023
|Song |"The Greatest Living Show" |Composer, writer | | {{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Jasmine |date=2023-03-31 |title=The Greatest Living Show, A Music Collaboration ft. Itoki Hana & Toby Fox |url=https://www.keengamer.com/articles/news/the-greatest-living-show-a-music-collaboration-ft-itoki-hana-toby-fox/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=KeenGamer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=The Greatest Living Show |url=https://toby.fangamer.com/show/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Toby Fox |language=en}} |
| Song
|"Prelude" |Composer |In collaboration with bo en |
| Animated television series
|Voice actor (2 episodes) | |
| Downloadable content
|Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero | Composer | Remix of Ed Sheeran's "Celestial" |
| rowspan="2" |2024
|Song |"Fallen Wing" |Composer |As a guest composer for Hololive VTuber Amane Kanata's Unknown DIVA album |
| Song
|"Dead Ma’am’s Chest" |Composer |In collaboration with Hololive VTuber Houshou Marine |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Twitter|id=tobyfox}}
{{TobyFox}}
{{Undertale}}
{{MSPA}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Toby}}
Category:American electronic musicians
Category:American male composers
Category:American musicians with disabilities
Category:American video game composers
Category:American video game designers
Category:American video game directors
Category:Indie game developers
Category:Northeastern University alumni
Category:People from Manchester, New Hampshire