Black Tabby Games, known for the popular indie games “Slay the Princess” and “Scarlet Hollow,” is launching its own indie publishing division, Black Tabby Publishing, with two games already signed: “Prove You’re Human” by Sunset Visitor and an unannounced title from SmallBü. The move follows a trend of successful indie developers entering publishing to fund projects and provide better terms than traditional publishers. Co-founder Tony Howard-Arias criticized aggressive industry deals, saying the current model doesn’t offer meaningful studio support. Black Tabby’s publishing effort was inspired after hearing the struggles of Sunset Visitor’s Remy Siu in pitching his project. The company plans to offer mid-six-figure deals, taking 70% of gross revenue until costs are recouped, after which revenue sharing flips, and rights revert to developers after three years. Their contracts ban generative AI use. Howard-Arias believes quality games sell regardless of budget, allowing for niche creations. While the primary revenue remains their games, like the successful “Slay the Princess,” their publishing arm aims to support other developers towards self-sufficiency.
Developer of “Slay the Princess” Expands into Indie Game Publishing
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