Devolver Digital is expanding its reach by launching a sub-label called Big Fan Games, dedicated to developing indie titles based on established intellectual properties. The team comprises industry veterans from companies like Disney and Dark Horse Comics, aiming to create original game adaptations from iconic film, television, and comic properties. While the label already has games like “Reigns: Game of Thrones,” “Hellboy Web of Wyrd,” and “John Wick Hex” in its library, the announcement teases upcoming releases. The goal is to nurture inventive games that stand on their own rather than relying on tie-ins for other media launches. Licensed games have had mixed success historically, but recent hits like Respawn’s Star Wars games and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” show promise. Looking ahead, MachineGames will release “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” while Arkane Lyon is working on a game based on Marvel’s Blade. The initiative from Big Fan Games to give indie developers a chance to work on licensed properties is commendable, with the studio welcoming ideas for rebooting favorite games or adapting popular films or books into games.
