Versus Evil LLC was an American video game publisher founded by former ZeniMax Online Studios marketing director Steve Escalante to focus on the independent video game market. Versus Evil was bought by another publisher, tinyBuild, in November 2021. On December 22, 2023, all Versus Evil staff were laid off and the company was shut down.
History Versus Evil was founded in September 2013. 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. Versus Evil continued to spread its distribution throughout the globe by launching Dragons and Titans, a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game, and the Steam Early Access version of Habitat, 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, and SwordTales, a Brazilian indie developer, who were working on their first video game, Toren, 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, 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.
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.
In November 2021, tinyBuild acquired Versus Evil and Red Cerberus. 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. On December 22, the entire Versus Evil staff was laid off. 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.
In April 2025, tinyBuild sold Red Cerberus to TestFly for an initial price of $1.5 million, which was later reduced to $1.1 million after standard post-completion adjustments.
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 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 Broken Roads Drop Bear Bytes Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S Tamarak Trail Yarrow Games Microsoft Windows
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