Devolver Digital, known for publishing unique indie games, announced a new label, Big Fan Games, dedicated to licensed games developed by independent studios. This initiative leverages Devolver’s existing experience with adaptations like Reigns: Game of Thrones, John Wick Hex, and Hellboy Web of Wyrd, empowering indie developers to creatively reimagine established franchises.
Image of John Wick from the game John Wick Hex
Big Fan Games already boasts partnerships with major entertainment companies including Disney, Dark Horse Comics, Rebellion, Lionsgate, HBO, and more. This suggests a promising pipeline of titles based on popular intellectual properties. Devolver emphasized this new venture’s focus on quality and developer-led creativity in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Big Fan’s DNA is in games like John Wick Hex and Reigns: Game of Thrones – unique takes on familiar franchises led by devs we love. Those games rule. So let’s make more.”
A New Era for Licensed Games?
The history of licensed video games is a mixed bag. While classics like Goldeneye and Telltale’s The Walking Dead demonstrate the potential for excellence, infamous titles like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and more recent disappointments like Skull Island: Rise of Kong highlight the risks involved. Big Fan Games aims to elevate the genre by focusing on indie developers’ unique perspectives and creative freedom.
The current gaming landscape, influenced by successful crossovers like Lego in Fortnite and the broader trend of pop culture integration, provides a fertile ground for this approach. Fortnite’s embrace of licensed characters and PUBG: Battlegrounds’ and Call of Duty’s similar ventures have normalized and popularized this model.
Quality and Creative Freedom as Core Principles
Big Fan Games emphasizes its commitment to quality and developer-driven innovation. A spokesperson stated, “We believe (and have seen firsthand) that great games that propel existing franchises can offer a connection with a fan that only an interactive experience can offer. Independent games created in these universes can explore them in new and unexpected ways, and it’s our goal to raise the bar of what fans can expect.”
Reinforcing this commitment to quality over genre adherence, the Big Fan Games X account declared that “making genuinely good video game adaptations that are just as good as their source material is the only goal.” This focus aligns with Devolver Digital’s reputation for publishing acclaimed and innovative indie titles, including recent releases like The Plucky Squire, Pepper Grinder, and The Crush House. While the specific lineup remains under wraps, Big Fan Games’ partnerships and stated philosophy suggest a promising future for licensed indie games.
