Devolver Digital

Devolver Digital, Inc.

Formerly	GHI Media, LLC
Type	Private
Industry	Video game industry
Founded	June 25, 2009; 9 years ago (2009-06-25)
Founders	Mike Wilson Harry Miller Rick Stults Nigel Lowrie Graeme Struthers
Headquarters	Austin, Texas , U.S.
Number of locations	2 offices (2018)
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Fork Parker (CFO)
Divisions	Devolver Digital Films Special Reserve Games[1]
Subsidiaries	Good Shepherd Entertainment
Website	devolverdigital.com

Devolver Digital, Inc. is an American video game publisher and film distributor based in Austin, Texas, which is primarily associated with the Serious Sam and Hotline Miami series. The company was founded in June 2009 by Mike Wilson, Harry Miller and Rick Stults, previously founders and executives of Gathering of Developers and Gamecock Media Group, alongside Nigel Lowrie and Graeme Struthers.

After partnering with developer Croteam for the Serious Sam series, they published their first game, Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, in 2009. Devolver Digital continued publishing Serious Sam related video games, but also started shifting their focus to smaller independent developers. Their first major indie success was Hotline Miami by Dennaton Games in 2012. Alongside the release of Hotline Miami, Devolver Digital opened a second office in London, England, led by Struthers and Andrew Parsons. In 2013, the company opened their film distribution arm, Devolver Digital Films, which aims at helping independent filmmakers by digitally distributing and promoting their work.

Contents

• 
  1 History
  
  
  
  • 
    1.1 Founding and initial development
    
  
  
  • 
    1.2 Expansion into film distribution
    
  
  
  • 
    1.3 Fictional CFO
    
  
  
  • 
    1.4 E3 press conferences
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  2 Games published
  


• 
  3 Games re-released
  


• 
  4 References
  


• 
  5 External links
  

History

Founding and initial development

Devolver Digital was founded in Austin, Texas, by Mike Wilson, Harry Miller and Rick Stults.^[2][3][4] The three had previously co-founded publishing companies Gathering of Developers in 1998, and Gamecock Media Group in 2007.^[5][4] Founding partners were Nigel Lowrie and Graeme Struthers, also business partners of Wilson.^[6] They announced the company's establishment on June 25, 2009, coinciding with the reveal of their first game, a high-definition remake of Croteam's 2001 game Serious Sam: The First Encounter.^[7][8]The First Encounter was originally published through Gathering of Developers, in a deal where Croteam retained the series' intellectual property, using which they chose to cooperate with Devolver Digital.^[9][5]

In 2012, Hotline Miami by Dennaton Games became the publisher's breakout hit, solidifying their role within the indie gaming community.^[10] The title went on to receive critical praise, appear on multiple "Best of 2012" lists,^[11] sold over 1,700,000 copies by February 2013.^[12]

Prior to the release of Serious Sam 3: BFE, Devolver Digital and Croteam experimented with the idea of shifting its focus towards publishing games of smaller independent companies. Using Serious Sam as a test bed, Devolver Digital contracted Mommy's Best Games and Vlambeer for smaller high-concept titles, publishing Serious Sam Double D and Serious Sam: The Random Encounter, respectively. Afterwards, fan-made titles Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack! by Be-Rad Entertainment and Serious Sam: The Greek Encounter by Eric Ruth Games, were taken into the official "indie series" portfolio and also published by Devolver Digital.

Expansion into film distribution

At the South by Southwest Film Festival 2013, Devolver Digital announced that their newly formed film distribution arm, Devolver Digital Films, would be spearheaded by Mike Wilson and Andie Grace, both of which are experienced filmmakers and industry insiders. Citing the lack of support for independent filmmakers at the point of distribution and financial support in production, Devolver Digital Films aimed "to be that much needed second or third wind to truly find an audience for the film at the home stretch and finish line.^[13] Employing the same approach to film distribution as with game publishing, Devolver Digital Films' ambition is to "apply that same fiercely creative devotion to indie filmmakers and their projects."^[13]

Fictional CFO

Fork Parker, the alleged chief financial officer of Devolver Digital, is a fictional character who first appeared in a promotional video for Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter on August 18, 2009, where he received a lot of fan acclaim. Due to his increasing popularity, he was turned into an advertisement figure, appearing on press releases and in game credits, as well as receiving his own Twitter account where he promotes Devolver Digital's games and gives critical opinions about current trends or news.^[14] Although he is a fictional character, Fork Parker has officially been listed as Devolver Digital's chief financial officer and is treated as such, appearing as an avaricious personality in the form of Easter eggs in various games.^[14]

E3 press conferences

In May 2017, Devolver Digital announced they would be also holding a press conference at E3 2017,^[15] but also announced that there won't be any "new game reveals", a deviation from the norm, but instead would feature an appearance of Suda51.^[16] The press conference itself turned out to be a satirical 20-minute pre-taped video of a supposed live audience hosted by supposed "Chief Synergy Officer" Nina Struthers (played by actress Mahria Zook),^[17] and included Struthers firing a gun into the air, a mock announcement of a new microtransaction method where the customer can literally throw money at the screen to purchase items, as well as an announcement of "Earliest Access", a parody on early access in which players can pre-order games that are yet to be entered into production.^[18] The show then ends with Struthers' head exploding. The video was directed by Don Thacker, head of Imagos Softworks.^[17] In the aftermath, the show was called "a meta joke on everyone watching"^[19] and "a freaking masterpiece" that "highlighted pretty much everything wrong with AAA gaming".^[20]

The joke video idea was repeated in 2018 with Zook reprising her role as Nina Struthers; the show this time introduced on a new item called "Lootboxcoin", a parody of both cryptocurrency and loot boxes; in reality it was a simple plastic coin that had "no actual value", but was available for purchase from the Devolver store for a fluctuating price. The presentation explicitly stated that the coin is not a cryptocurrency, should not be considered currency and warned viewers that they "can't buy anything with it".^[21][22] Also introduced was the "Devolver Digital Entertainment System Classic", in reality a repainted Sega Dreamcast. The show then ended with the gamer who lost his hand in the 2017 show gunning down Struthers, who then, in an homage to the first-person sequence of RoboCop, gets cybernetically augmented.^[23]

Games published

Year	Title	Developer(s)	Platform(s)
2009	Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter	Croteam	Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
2010	Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter	Croteam	Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
2011	Serious Sam Double D	Mommy's Best Games	Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack!	Be-Rad Entertainment	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam: The Random Encounter	Vlambeer	Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam 3: BFE	Croteam	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2012	Serious Sam: The Greek Encounter	Eric Ruth Games	Microsoft Windows
	To-Fu: The Trials of Chi	HotGen	Android, Microsoft Windows
	Spacelings	HotGen	Android, Microsoft Windows
	Hotline Miami	Dennaton Games Abstraction Games	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	To-Fu 2	HotGen	Microsoft Windows
2013	Serious Sam Double D XXL	Mommy's Best Games	Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
	Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition	3D Realms General Arcade	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
	Dungeon Hearts	Cube Roots	iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Shadow Warrior Classic Redux	3D Realms General Arcade	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Foul Play	Mediatonic	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360
	Shadow Warrior	Flying Wild Hog	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior	RuneStorm	Microsoft Windows
	Defense Technica	Kuno Interactive	macOS, Microsoft Windows
2014	Luftrausers	Vlambeer	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
	Serious Sam Classics: Revolution	Croteam Alligator Pit	Microsoft Windows
	Always Sometimes Monsters	Vagabond Dog	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	Dungeon Hearts Blitz	Tangent	Android, iOS
	OlliOlli	Roll7	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Gods Will Be Watching	Deconstructeam	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	The Expendabros	Free Lives	macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Hatoful Boyfriend	PigeoNation Inc. Mediatonic	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Heavy Bullets	Terri Vellmann	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Sigils of Elohim	Croteam	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Cosmic DJ	GL33k	iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	The Talos Principle	Croteam	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	Fork Parker's Holiday Profit Hike	Dodge Roll	macOS, Microsoft Windows
2015	Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number	Dennaton Games Abstraction Games	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Titan Souls	Acid Nerve	Android, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Not a Hero	Roll7	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
	Ronin	Tomasz Wacławek	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Breach & Clear: Deadline	Mighty Rabbit Studios Gun Media	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood	Roll7	Android, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Dropsy	Tendershoot A Jolly Corpse	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	A Fistful of Gun	FarmerGnome	Microsoft Windows
	Broforce	Free Lives	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
	Downwell	Moppin	Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Pathologic Classic HD	Ice-Pick Lodge General Arcade	Microsoft Windows
	Noct	C3SK	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star	PigeoNation Inc. Mediatonic	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
2016	#SelfieTennis	VRUnicorns	Microsoft Windows
	Enter the Gungeon	Dodge Roll	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	OmniBus	Buddy Cops, LLC	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Reigns	Nerial	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Okhlos	Coffee Powered Machine	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Mother Russia Bleeds	Le Cartel Studio	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	Shadow Warrior 2	Flying Wild Hog	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2017	Stories Untold	No Code	macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Sub Rosa	Cryptic Sea	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter	Croteam	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam VR: The Second Encounter	Croteam	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	Golf for Workgroups	Cryptic Sea	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Spaceplan	Jake Hollands	Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Strafe	Pixel Titans	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	Block'hood	Plethora Project	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam's Bogus Detour	Crackshell	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	Gorn	Free Lives	Microsoft Windows
	Absolver	Sloclap	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope	Croteam	Microsoft Windows
	Ruiner	Reikon Games	Linux, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	The Talos Principle VR	Croteam	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE	Croteam	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	High Hell	Terri Vellmann Doseone	macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Reigns: Her Majesty	Nerial	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
2018	Genital Jousting	Free Lives	Microsoft Windows
	The Red Strings Club	Deconstructeam	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Crossing Souls	Fourattic	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
	Umiro	Diceroll Studios	Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Minit	JW, Kitty, Jukio, and Dom	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	Block'hood VR	Plethora Project General Arcade	Microsoft Windows
	The Swords of Ditto	Onebitbeyond	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	Fork Parker's Crunch Out	Mega Cat Studios	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
	I Hate Running Backwards	Binx Interactive	Linux, Microsoft Windows
	Scum	Gamepires	Microsoft Windows
	The Messenger	Sabotage Studio	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Reigns: Game of Thrones	Nerial	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Gris	Nomada Studio	macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
2019	Pikuniku	Sectordub	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Ape Out	Gabe Cuzzillo	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Weedcraft Inc	Vile Monarch	Microsoft Windows
	Katana Zero	Askiisoft	macOS, Microsoft Windows
	Observation	No Code	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	My Friend Pedro	DeadToast Entertainment	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Gato Roboto	Doinksoft	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Heave Ho	Le Cartel Studio	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
	Metal Wolf Chaos XD	FromSoftware General Arcade	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
	Serious Sam 4: Planet Badass[24]	Croteam	TBA
TBA	Eitr	Eneme Entertainment	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
	Sometimes Always Monsters	Vagabond Dog	Microsoft Windows
	Gassy Mob	Flee Punk	Android, iOS
	Paradise Never	Kitty Lambda	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
	The Talos Principle 2[25]	Croteam	TBA

Games re-released

Year of re-release	Year of original release	Title	Developer(s)	Platform(s)
2010	2001	Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter	Croteam	Microsoft Windows
	2002	Serious Sam Classic: The Second Encounter	Croteam	Microsoft Windows
2011	2005	Serious Sam 2	Croteam	Microsoft Windows
2013	1997	Shadow Warrior	3D Realms	macOS, Microsoft Windows
	2006	Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure	The Collective	Microsoft Windows
2015	2014	Breach & Clear	Mighty Rabbit Studios	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows

References

1. 
   ^ "Limited Run and Special Reserve Games Team Up for Strafe Physical Edition - Hardcore Gamer". hardcoregamer.com. May 3, 2017..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ Grant, Christopher (June 25, 2009). "Gamecock, Gathering of Developers founders re-emerge as Devolver Digital". Engadget.
   


3. 
   ^ McKeand, Kirk (August 31, 2016). "Meet Devolver Digital, gaming's own Death Row Records". The Telegraph.
   


4. 
   ^ ^ab Zacny, Rob (June 30, 2014). "If at first you don't succeed: Mike Wilson on five years of Devolver, and a lifetime of publishing struggles". PCGamesN.
   


5. 
   ^ ^ab "Gamecock co-founders start new publishing company". gamesindustry.biz.
   


6. 
   ^ Messner, Steven (September 23, 2016). "How Devolver Digital is redefining videogame publishing". PC Gamer.
   


7. 
   ^ McWhertor, Michael. "Gamecock Resurrected As Devolver Digital?". kotaku.com.
   


8. 
   ^ "Gamecock and g.o.d. Vets Return with Devolver". Shacknews.
   


9. 
   ^ "Devolver Digital formed by Gamecock, GOD games founders - VG247". vg247.com. June 25, 2009.
   


10. 
    ^ Roberts, David (April 29, 2015). "Digital humanity: how Devolver is the Sub Pop of gaming". GamesRadar+.
    


11. 
    ^ Hamilton, Kirk (January 3, 2013). "Kirk's Top 11 Games Of 2012". Kotaku.
    


12. 
    ^ Krupa, Daniel (February 19, 2013). "Hotline Miami Coming to PS3 and PS Vita". IGN.
    


13. 
    ^ ^ab Chiullan, Moisés (March 7, 2013). "SXSW: Videogame Developer/Publisher Devolver Digital Adds a Film Distribution Arm!". Ain't It Cool News.
    


14. 
    ^ ^ab Newman, Heather (December 1, 2015). "A Very Special Holiday Interview with (fake) Devolver Digital CFO Fork Parker". VentureBeat.
    


15. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital E3 2017 Press Conference Confirmed". PlayStation LifeStyle. May 17, 2017.
    


16. 
    ^ "Devolver E3 2017 Won't Have Any New Game Reveals". PlayStation LifeStyle. June 8, 2017.
    


17. 
    ^ ^ab "The story behind Devolver Digital's legendary, ridiculously last-minute 2017 E3 press conference". Polygon.
    


18. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital's Very E3 Press Conference is Very Great Very. – Geek Reply". geekreply.com.
    


19. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital Press Conference is a Meta Joke on Everyone Watching". cogconnected.com. June 11, 2017.
    


20. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital Had The Best E3 2017 Press Conference". oneangrygamer.net. June 12, 2017.
    


21. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital mocks loot boxes and cryptocurrencies with its latest E3 stunt". The Verge.
    


22. 
    ^ "Yes, you can actually buy Devolver Digital's Lootboxcoin". Polygon.
    


23. 
    ^ "Devolver Digital E3 2018: Press Conference Recap". techraptor.net.
    


24. 
    ^ Singletary, Charles Jr. (June 22, 2018). "Serious Sam 4 Interview: First Encounters of the Badass Kind". Shacknews.
    


25. 
    ^ O'Connor, Alice (May 20, 2016). "The Talos Principle 2 Discreetly Announced". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
    

External links

• Official website

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