Indie Devs Launch New Publishing Arm

Black Tabby Games, the acclaimed indie studio behind Slay the Princess and Scarlet Hollow, has officially entered the publishing arena with the launch of Black Tabby Publishing. This strategic move arrives amidst growing instability in the video game industry, with successful indie developers increasingly seeking to support and publish games they believe in.

Driven by a desire to counter aggressive publishing contracts and offer genuine support, Black Tabby Publishing's founders were inspired to create a more developer-friendly model. They aim to provide mid-six-figure deals to small teams, offering flexibility without reliance on explosive launch performance.

The publishing agreement stipulates that Black Tabby Publishing receives 70 percent of gross revenue post-Steam's cut until costs are recouped, after which the split reverses. Crucially, game rights revert to developers three years post-launch, and the contract includes a clause against generative AI usage.

Black Tabby Games will continue its own game development as its primary revenue source. The publishing arm is viewed as a supportive mechanism to help other creators achieve self-sufficiency, enabling them to fund future projects independently.