| Versus Evil LLC | |
| Type: | Subsidiary |
| Founder: | Steve Escalante |
| Location City: | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Location Country: | US |
| Key People: | Steve Escalante Lance James Francis Fincke |
| Products: | The Banner Saga series |
| Parent: | tinyBuild (2021–2023) |
| Subsid: | Red Cerberus |
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.
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 ,[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] [14]
In November 2021, tinyBuild acquired Versus Evil and Red Cerberus.[15] In December 2023, tinyBuild reported that it had settled a legal dispute with Versus Evil general manager Steve Escalante, head of production James Lance, and previous owner Stall Proof LLC, who had filed a claim that tinyBuild had failed to make "timely capital contributions" to the studio. Escalante had also separately claimed that $3 million in shares and options had not been paid. TinyBuild settled the matter for $3.5 million plus legal costs. Escalante subsequently left the company.[16] On December 22, the entire Versus Evil staff was laid off.[17] [18] All Versus Evil releases, including upcoming titles, were moved over to tinyBuild.
In August 2024, Steve Escalante and Lance James announced the formation of Digital Bandidos, a new publisher aimed at funding indie games and acquiring new and established intellectual property.[19]
| Year | Game | Developer | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 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 | 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 | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | ||
| Mothergunship | Grip Digital Terrible Posture Games | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
| The Banner Saga 3 | 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | Astor: Blade of the Monolith | 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 | |
| Drop Bear Bytes | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S | ||
| Tamarak Trail | Yarrow Games | Microsoft Windows |