Versus Evil

Versus Evil LLC

File:Versus Evil Logo.png
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video games
Founded	September 2013 (2013-09)
Founder	Steve Escalante
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Headquarters	Baltimore, Maryland , US
Key people	Steve Escalante Lance James Francis Fincke
Products	The Banner Saga series Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Parent	tinyBuild (2021–2023)
Subsidiaries	Red Cerberus
Website	versusevil.com

Versus Evil LLC was an American publisher specializing in video games, established by Steve Escalante, formerly the marketing director at ZeniMax Online Studios, with a primary focus on independent game titles. In November 2021, the company was acquired by tinyBuild. The organization ceased operations and laid off all personnel on December 22, 2023.

History

Versus Evil was founded in September 2013 and shortly thereafter launched Stoic's tactical role-playing game The Banner Saga on January 14, 2014. This title garnered acclaim as one of the standout indie games released that year. The company broadened its international reach by distributing various titles including Dragons and Titans, a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game, along with the Steam Early Access version of Habitat, which was slated for a retail launch in 2015.

During Gamescom 2014, Versus Evil announced collaborations with several developers such as Tangrin Studios, creators of the action RPG Kyn, and SwordTales from Brazil, who were developing the puzzle platformer Toren. Additionally, they unveiled Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma, a sequel produced by Redacted Studios. In September 2014, the publisher released its inaugural mobile game by porting The Banner Saga to iOS platforms.

On February 8, 2021, Versus Evil discontinued support for the Nintendo Switch version of Pillars of Eternity, which remained plagued by technical issues and lacked refund options.

The acquisition of Versus Evil and its subsidiary Red Cerberus by tinyBuild occurred in November 2021. By December 2023, tinyBuild resolved a legal conflict involving Versus Evil’s general manager Steve Escalante and other parties concerning delayed funding contributions and unpaid equity shares, resulting in a payment of $3.5 million plus associated legal fees. Following this settlement, Escalante exited the company. Subsequently, on December 22, all employees at Versus Evil were dismissed, with ongoing projects being transferred under tinyBuild’s management.

In August 2024, former executives Steve Escalante and Lance James launched Digital Bandidos, a new publishing entity dedicated to supporting independent game development and acquiring intellectual properties.

Games published

Year	Title	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' '	Nintendo Switch'
	'Cardpocalypse' '	Gambrinous' '	Microsoft Windows,MacoS ,PlayStation ,iOS'
	'Yaga' '	Breadcrumbs Interactive' '	Microsoft Windows,MacoS,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,Xbox One ,iOS'
'2020' '	Wintermoor Tactics Club' '	EVC Games' '	Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,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 ,PlayStation ,iOS'
'Almighty: Kill Your Gods' '	RunWild Entertainment' '	Microsoft Windows'
'Sockventure' '	Nighthouse Games' '	Microsoft Windows'
'UnMetal' '	Unepic Entertainment' '	Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,Xbox One'
'First Class Trouble' '	Invisible Walls' '	Microsoft Windows,macoS,Linux ,PlayStation ,PlayStation '
'Hand of Merlin' '	Room-C Games and Croteam' '	Microsoft Windows '
'2022' '	Eville' '	VestGames' '	Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,PlayStation ,Xbox One ,Xbox Series X/S'
'2023' '	Stray Souls' '	Jukai Studio' '	Microsoft Windows ,PlayStation ,PlayStation ,Xbox One ,Xbox Series X/S'
'2024' '	Astor: Blade of the Monolith' '	C2 Game Studio' '	Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,PlayStation ,Xbox One ,Xbox Series X/S'
'Lil’ Guardsman’ ‘Hilltop Studios’ ‘Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch ,PlayStation ,PlayStation ,Xbox One’
'Broken Roads’ ‘Drop Bear Bytes’ ‘Microsoft Windows,Nintendo Switch,Xbox Series X/S’
'Tamarak Trail’ ‘Yarrow Games’ ‘Microsoft Windows’