A decade of indie games comes to an end.
The renowned indie game publisher, Versus Evil, has formally shut down, dismissing its complete 13-person team. Shared on Twitter (hereinafter X) on December 22, 2023, this announcement signifies the conclusion of their influential decade-long presence in the indie gaming realm.
This closure unfolds against a turbulent backdrop, encompassing a legal conflict with tinyBuild. The latter had acquired Versus Evil in 2021 with ambitious aspirations, setting the stage for subsequent challenges.
Legal Dispute With tinybuild Leads to Closure
The General Manager, Steve Escalante, filed a lawsuit in 2022, citing breaches of agreement, withheld payments, and interference in Versus Evil's operations. After a year-long legal battle, tinyBuild settled, agreeing to pay $3.5 million in addition to legal fees, culminating in the closure of Versus Evil.
Following the settlement, Escalante announced his "impending departure", casting uncertainty over Versus Evil's future. Matters worsened when Francis Fincke, a former Versus Evil's director, disclosed via LinkedIn that the entire staff was let go at the start of the Christmas break in December 2023.
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A "Bleak" Year for the Video Game Industry
Versus Evil joins the ranks of casualties in the video game industry. The widespread impact of staff layoffs within the gaming industry is evident, as videogamelayoffs.com reveals a substantial toll of 10,000 job cuts as of writing.
This dire situation reaches across gaming giants such as Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, and Square Enix, highlighting the broad-reaching effects on companies of various sizes, both major and smaller.
tinyBuild also closed down Hakjak Studio, the developers of the upcoming Pigeon Simulator, earlier this month. While the cause remains undisclosed, speculation ties it to the legal feud involving Versus Evil.
Founded in 2013 by Steve Escalante, Versus Evil was launched by a former marketing director from Bethesda Softworks.
Throughout this year, the gaming sector faced hurdles like COVID-19, chip scarcities, escalating development expenses, and heightened rivalry from new platforms. Analysts anticipate industry consolidation, emphasizing that only the most profitable and inventive firms will persist.
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