Deck Nine
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | April 1997 in Boulder, Colorado, United States |
| Founder | Mark Lyons, Scott Atkins |
| Headquarters | Westminster, Colorado , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Video games |
Idol Minds, LLC, operating under the name Deck Nine since 2017, is a video game development company located in Westminster, Colorado. Established in April 1997 by Mark Lyons and Scott Atkins, the firm initially focused on creating games solely for PlayStation platforms until 2012. Afterwards, it transitioned towards mobile gaming before adopting the Deck Nine brand to concentrate on story-centric game experiences.
History
Idol Minds was founded in 1997 in Boulder, Colorado, by programmer Mark Lyons and artist Scott Atkins, both formerly associated with Sony Interactive Studios America. The studio produced several sports titles for 989 Studios and later developed games such as the party game My Street and the action-adventure Neopets: The Darkest Faerie. In November 2007, Idol Minds launched Pain, a ragdoll physics-based title that became one of the PlayStation Network’s most downloaded games in 2008. Despite this success, the company faced significant setbacks in October 2009 when Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), its exclusive financier, reduced its budget, leading to layoffs of more than half the workforce.
At E3 2011, SCE unveiled Ruin, an action role-playing game co-created by Idol Minds and San Diego Studio. The project was later renamed Warrior's Lair, but Idol Minds was removed from development in April 2012; Sony ultimately canceled the game in July 2013. Following this, Idol Minds shifted its attention to free-to-play mobile games. In August 2015, the studio initiated a Kickstarter campaign for Shutterbug, a photo safari game aiming to raise $400,000; however, it was canceled after securing only $2,973.
On May 31, 2017, Idol Minds rebranded as Deck Nine to focus on narrative-driven titles and developed the StoryForge engine to support this direction. During E3 2017, Square Enix announced that Deck Nine would develop Life Is Strange: Before the Storm, a prequel to the acclaimed 2015 title Life Is Strange. This three-episode series was released between August and December 2017, followed by an additional Farewell DLC episode in March 2018. In September 2018, Deck Nine confirmed its involvement in another Square Enix project.
In March 2021, Square Enix revealed both Life Is Strange: True Colors and the remastered Life Is Strange Remastered Collection, with Deck Nine responsible for their development. True Colors debuted in September 2021 alongside the Wavelengths downloadable content. The Colorado Office of Economic Development supported Deck Nine with $2.5 million in tax credits aimed at job growth and film incentives during production.
In December 2021, Telltale Games announced a collaboration with Deck Nine on The Expanse: A Telltale Series. After delays, the remastered collection was released in February 2022. In May 2023, Deck Nine reduced its workforce by laying off 30 employees. The initial episode of The Expanse series launched in July 2023 with subsequent bi-weekly episodes through September; an Archangel DLC followed in November. In February 2024, another reduction cut about one-fifth of staff.
In April 2024, IGN reported claims of a toxic work environment at Deck Nine during development of a new Life Is Strange installment, including allegations of Nazi imagery among employees. The company responded by highlighting its commitment to diversity and employee well-being. In June 2024, Square Enix announced Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, a direct sequel released in October. Later that year, in December 2024, Deck Nine conducted an additional round of layoffs.
Under the Name Idol Minds
| Release Year | Game Title | Supported Platform(s) | Publisher(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Cool Boarders 3 | PlayStation | 989 Studios | |
| Rally Cross 2 | ||||
| 1999 | Cool Boarders 4 | |||
| Supercross Circuit | 989 Sports | |||
| 2000 | Cool Boarders 2001 | PlayStation, PlayStation 2 | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| 2003 | My Street | PlayStation 2 | ||
| 2005 | Neopets: The Darkest Faerie | |||
| 2007 | Pain | PlayStation 3 | ||
| 2008 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | PlayStation 2 | Activision | |
| 2012 | Ratchet & Clank Collection | PlayStation 3 | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Linked Together | iOS | Idol Minds | ||
| 2013 | Ratchet: Deadlocked (HD Edition) | PlayStation 3 | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Phrazzle | iOS, Android | GameFly | ||
| 2014 | Tales of Honor: The Secret Fleet | Mobage | ||
| Qube Kingdom |
Operating as Deck Nine
| Release Year | Game Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Life Is Strange: Before the Storm | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Square Enix | |
| 2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | ||
| 2022 | Life Is Strange Remastered Collection | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One | ||
| 2023 | The Expanse: A Telltale Series | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Telltale Games | |
| 2024 | Life Is Strange: Double Exposure | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S | Square Enix |