As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Devolver Digital’s new venture, Big Fan Games, is nothing short of groundbreaking. Having witnessed the rise of this indie powerhouse from its humble beginnings to its current status as a household name, I am genuinely excited about what this new label could bring to the table.
Devolver Digital, known for its long-standing focus on independent game publishing, has introduced a fresh opportunity for the studios creating these games to break into the mainstream. Originating from the team behind Good Shepherd Entertainment, Devolver Digital’s new label, Big Fan Games, enables indie developers to collaborate with well-known franchises.
Initially starting small, Devolver Digital has experienced rapid expansion and is now increasingly recognized in many households – a testament to this is the humorous and detailed content displayed through their Devolver Directs. For some time, they’ve collaborated with major players in the industry, but they truly skyrocketed when they published Fall Guys in 2020. Following the quick sale of publishing rights for Mediatonic’s blockbuster game to Epic, Devolver used those funds to grow its own business and absorb other companies into its structure.
Devolver Digital’s New Label For Licensed Indie Games
Amidst the current activities of Devolver Digital, they’ve unveiled a fresh publishing label called Big Fan Games. This new venture was first teased on Twitter on October 1st. Big Fan Games is designed to bridge indie developers with big-name licensed intellectual properties. Although no games have been presented as of yet following this announcement, the debut of their website does showcase their collaborators – an impressive roster featuring Disney, Rebellion, HBO, and Darkhorse Comics.
The publisher is formed from the team behind Good Shepherd Entertainment, one of Devolver’s aforementioned acquisitions, which previously published Hellboy Web of Wyrd and John Wick Hex. These two games are being promoted (alongside the Devolver-published Reigns, which collaborated with Game of Thrones) on the page as examples of what Big Fan can do for indie studios. The new page also loudly promotes how Big Fan is actively seeking new pitches, with an email address for pitches.
What Big Fan Is Offering Indie Devs
Apart from partnering with indie developers like John Wick movies suggest, Big Fan also provides numerous additional benefits commonly associated with big publishers. The website doesn’t delve deeply into specifics, but it does emphasize that Big Fan can handle red tape issues, localization, porting, quality control, marketing, and even creative assistance in terms of project management and co-piloting. In simpler terms, Big Fan is ready to help indie developers collaborate with big names while handling various tasks related to publishing and production.
During an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Amanda Kruse, the head of business development, emphasized that Big Fan is distinct from the regular offerings at Devolver Digital. She explained, “Although we are now part of Devolver, we don’t wish to be a duplicate. No one can be […] So I was thrilled about proposing ‘let’s work on adaptations’.
In essence, Kruse’s statement makes clear the degree to which Good Shepherd has merged with Big Fan Games, a fact hinted at by Big Fan’s website, which showcases old Good Shepherd press releases under its new name. This is particularly significant for developers, as it confirms that Big Fan will continue to function independently from Devolver. Additionally, Kruse emphasizes the team’s expertise at their respective roles within this separate label, while also acknowledging the connections they share with Devolver, which can be beneficial when serving as a liaison between independent studios and intellectual property owners.
As AAA games are leaving gamers feeling tired, the indie market is experiencing a significant surge in popularity. Although licensed shovelware is becoming less common, allowing small studios to collaborate with big intellectual properties could be an ideal blend of innovation, rejuvenation, and widespread recognition—particularly since independent studios like Larian Games have successfully made a strong impact using major licenses.
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2024-10-05 21:34