Devolver Digital has announced the creation of a new publishing imprint designed specifically for licensed games. The label, called Big fan gamesis run by industry veterans who have worked with brands like Disney, Dark Horse, and more. In a press release, Devolver said the new company's goals are to “help independent game developers breathe new life into their favorite movies, comics, TV shows, and cult heroes through the power of video games.” . Big Fan already has several games on its roster, including Queen: Game of Thrones, Hellboy Web of Wyrdand John Wick Hex.
Licensed games represented a large part of the video game industry in the late 80s and early 90s. Many games that have become enshrined in the imagination of older gamers for being more difficult than today's games were licensed platforms such as those from Disney. Lion King, duck talesand Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the NES. However, their quality began to decline and soon licensed games came to be considered little more than interactive commercials.
Although feelings regarding licensed games have changed, the Big Fan team is aware of the stigma and shares in the press release that Big Fan's “goal is to foster fun and inventive games that stand on their own, in rather than serving as a marketing link.” -ins for other media releases.”
Big Fan looks to keep up the trend, saying that “indie games created in these universes can explore them in new and unexpected ways, and we aim to raise the bar for what fans can expect.”
