Versus Evil LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedSeptember 2013; 10 years ago (2013-09)
FounderSteve Escalante
DefunctDecember 22, 2023 (2023-12-22)
Headquarters
Baltimore, Maryland
,
US
Key people
Steve Escalante
Lance James
Francis Fincke
ProductsThe Banner Saga series
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
ParenttinyBuild (2021–2023)
SubsidiariesRed Cerberus
Websiteversusevil.com

Versus Evil LLC was an American video game publisher[1] founded by former ZeniMax Online Studios marketing director Steve Escalante to focus on the independent video game market.[2] Versus Evil was bought by another publisher, tinyBuild, in November 2021. In December 2023, all Versus Evil staff were laid off, days before Christmas.

History

Versus Evil was founded in September 2013.[3] On January 14, 2014, Versus Evil launched Stoic's role-playing strategy game, The Banner Saga, which received praise as one of the top indie titles of 2014.[4][5] Versus Evil continued to spread its distribution throughout the globe by launching Dragons and Titans,[6] a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game, and the Steam Early Access version of Habitat,[7] which it expected to launch at retail in 2015. In August 2014 at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, Versus Evil announced several key developer partnerships including Tangrin Studios, based in the Netherlands, who were working on an action role-playing title, Kyn,[8] and SwordTales, a Brazilian indie developer, who were working on their first video game, Toren,[9] a puzzle platform adventure game. Also part of this announcement was the sequel to the third-person action game Afro Samurai, called Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma,[10][11] being developed by indie developer Redacted Studios. In September 2014, Versus Evil launched their first mobile title by bringing The Banner Saga to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.[12]

On February 8, 2021, the Nintendo Switch port of Pillars of Eternity was abandoned by Versus Evil while still containing significant bugs, with no refunds offered.[13]

In November 2021, tinyBuild acquired Versus Evil and Red Cerberus.[14] On December 22, 2023, a few weeks after Escalante left the company, tinyBuild laid off all Versus Evil staff.[15][16][3] All Versus Evil releases, including upcoming titles, were moved over to tinyBuild.[3]

Games published

Year Game Developer Platform(s)
2013 The Banner Saga: Factions Stoic Microsoft Windows, macOS
2014 The Banner Saga Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Tower of Guns Terrible Posture Games Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Dragons and Titans Wyrmbyte Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Habitat: A Thousand Generations in Orbit 4Gency Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4
2015 Toren Swordtales Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4
Guild of Dungeoneering Gambrinous Microsoft Windows
Kyn Tangrin Entertainment Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Armikrog Pencil Test Studios Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Skyshine's Bedlam Skyshine Games Microsoft Windows, macOS
Afro Samurai 2 Redacted Studios Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
2016 The Banner Saga 2 Stoic Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Armikrog Pencil Test Studios Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2017 Faeria Abrakam Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Antihero Tim Conkling Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Let Them Come Tuatara Games Microsoft Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2018 Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Obsidian Entertainment Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Mothergunship Grip Digital
Terrible Posture Games		 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Banner Saga 3 Stoic Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2019 At Sundown: Shots in the Dark Mild Beast Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition Obsidian Entertainment Nintendo Switch
Into the Dead 2 PikPok
Cardpocalypse Gambrinous Microsoft Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, iOS
Yaga Breadcrumbs Interactive Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS
2020 Wintermoor Tactics Club EVC Games Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2021 Jumpala Yokereba Microsoft Windows, MacOS
Holodrive BitCake Studio Microsoft Windows
Hitchhiker: A Mystery Game Mad About Pandas Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS
Almighty: Kill Your Gods RunWild Entertainment Microsoft Windows
Sockventure Nighthouse Games Microsoft Windows
UnMetal Unepic Entertainment Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
First Class Trouble Invisible Walls Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Hand of Merlin Room-C Games
Croteam		 Microsoft Windows
2022 Eville VestGames Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2023 Stray Souls Jukai Studio Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2024 Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients C2 Game Studio Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Lil' Guardsman Hilltop Studios Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Broken Roads Drop Bear Bytes Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
Tamarak Trail Yarrow Games Microsoft Windows

References

  1. ^ Brendan Sinclair (3 March 2014). "Banner Saga publisher Versus Evil sets up shop". GI Biz. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  2. ^ Craig Chapple (13 March 2014). "Versus Evil: Publishers are still relevant to indies". Develop. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Versus Evil to shut down [Update]". Gematsu. 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  4. ^ Cassandra Shaw (14 January 2014). "The Banner Saga PC Review: Game of Thrones Meets Vikings Meets Disney". US Gamer. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  5. ^ "The Banner Saga PC Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  6. ^ Suzie Ford (13 March 2014). "Dragons & Titans: F2P MOBA Launches for PC & Mac". MMORPG.com. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  7. ^ Blaine Humphries. "Indie Stash Cast: Charles Cox of 4Gency Talks Habitat and the Benefits of ID@Xbox". Two Dash Stash. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  8. ^ John Ledford. "Versus Evil Announces Afro Samurai Sequel, Kyn and More". Arcade Sushi. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  9. ^ Alex Co (5 August 2014). "Dark Fantasy Adventure Game "Toren" to Launch on PS4 in 2015". PlayStation Lifestyle. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  10. ^ Tracey Lien (25 June 2014). "Afro Samurai 2 currently in development". Polygon. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  11. ^ Danny Cowan. "Afro Samurai Sequel Announced for PC and Consoles". Joystiq. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  12. ^ Mike Futter. "The Banner Saga waves it flag on iOS". Game Informer. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  13. ^ "Pillars of Eternity Nintendo Switch update". Twitter. February 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "TinyBuild acquires Versus Evil and Red Cerberus in $31.3m deal". GamesIndustry.biz. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  15. ^ Carter, Justin (December 22, 2023). "Indie publisher Versus Evil has shut down". Game Developer. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Stedman, Alex (December 22, 2023). "Indie Publisher Versus Evil Is Shutting Down, Entire Staff Laid Off". IGN. Retrieved December 22, 2023.

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