Devolver will begin publishing sport variations of movies, comics, TV exhibits and “cult heroes” underneath the label Massive Fan, the corporate introduced in the present day. Like Devolver itself, Massive Fan will deal with indie studios, which is able to presumably result in extra dangerous (or no less than extra realistically budgeted) variations. Assume stuff like John Wick Hex, which was not coincidentally printed by Devolver subsidiary Good Shepherd.
That won’t lead to extra area of interest variations, thoughts: Massive Fan is already “actively working” with some heavy-duty companions together with Disney, Darkish Horse Comics, Revolt and Lionsgate, and the staff has expertise engaged on properties together with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Blair Witch, Dune and extra. Most of Massive Fan is, in truth, Good Shepherd, simply with a distinct title and a extra targeted mission assertion.
“We imagine (and have seen firsthand) that nice video games that propel current franchises can provide a reference to a fan that solely an interactive expertise can provide,” Devolver’s announcement reads. “Unbiased video games created in these universes can discover them in new and surprising methods, and it’s our purpose to boost the bar of what followers can count on.”
The announcement additionally, maybe ill-advisedly, invitations folks to get in contact if they’ve any concepts. It does not say they should be good, so go nuts. (Because you’re listening, Massive Fan, I feel a Telltale Video games method to Curb Your Enthusiasm can be a multi-billion-dollar vendor, and Larry David is unquestionably a “cult hero”.)
Some related titles previously printed by Good Shepherd or Devolver have now been relabeled underneath the Massive Fan title, together with the aforementioned John Wick Hex, but in addition Hellboy Internet of Wyrd and Reigns: Recreation of Thrones. As for what Massive Fan has within the pipeline, representatives from the studio confirmed with Gamesindustry.biz that there are six energetic initiatives.
Videogame variations of movies, TV, comics—you title it—used to have the status of being soulless, half-assed cash-ins, however the final decade has seen a marked shift from that narrative: assume the Arkham trilogy, the Spider-Man video games, and many others. Whether or not that is as a result of studios making movie tie-ins have woken as much as scent the daisies, or simply that sure mass market leisure properties have grow to be extra punishingly ubiquitous during the last 20 years, is a topic up for separate debate.