Indie games publisher Devolver Digital has launched a brand new indie games publishing arm called Big Fan Games, a whole new branch dedicated to publishing indie games that are adapted from established movies, TV shows and comics.
The team is essentially comprised of members from publisher Good Shepherd, which Devolver acquired back in 2021. Good Shepherd had previously published games based on entertainment IP outside of games, so Big Fan is more or less a continuation of the team’s bread and butter with a new name.
Lincoln Hershberger will lead the publisher as general manager, while Amanda Kruse will head up business development for the team. Kruse, for her part was also previously part of Good Shepherd prior to Devolver’s acquisition of the studio.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.Biz, Kruse said that Big Fan was born as part of the Good Shepherd team exploring what they can add to the Devolver family, rather than trying to just be a second Devolver.
“I love adaptations, so when we were trying to figure out what we specialise in… we are part of Devolver now, but we don’t want to be Devolver 2. Nobody can be. They’re so cool and original. How can we separate ourselves? So I was excited to pitch ‘let’s do adaptations.’ Because that is what is exciting for us and most of our team,” said Kruse.
While Devolver will continue to work with indie teams to find new and original games, Big Fan will instead focus on those indie teams who want to put their own unique twist on something that’s already existing in the world.
Kruse adds, “The dream is that we’re synonymous with quality adaptations in games one day. But [Devolver] does afford us to just focus on the games and developers, and worry less about our own personal brand building.”
Source – [GamesIndustry.Biz]