Another video game company has announced its closure this week. This time it's Merge Games, who is apparently "closing down" after a 15 year run.
In a now-deleted post, it was mentioned how the indie-focused team was made up of "incredible" people who "worked their hardest".
"Starting from a tiny, cramped attic and growing to a tight, multi-disciplined 22 person team, we've brought hundreds of indie gems to storefronts...if you see someone from Merge, just know that they're an incredible person that worked their hardest."
Where this all gets a bit odd, is the fact this initial shutdown announcement was then replaced with a notice about how Merge has now integrated within parent company Maximum Entertainment.
"The games you've come to love, and those you look forward to will now be coming from Maximum Entertainment."
Maximum Entertainment CEO Christina Seelya has mentioned how this decision is part of the company's consolidation strategy, which began earlier in 2024 (via GamesIndustry.biz).
Although the original "closing down" post was deleted by Merge Games, many accounts on social media have reshared the message:
Merge's publishing and distribution portfolio is made up of titles like Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, Aragami, Dead Cells, Darkest Dungeon, Mineko's Night Market and Selfloss.
If we hear any updates or developments, we'll let you know.
Comments 14
Merge had a good catalogue of published games. It really goes to show that the space for mid-budget indies is thinning to an alarming rate.
My favorite game published by Merge Games was Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. It was a fun, absolutely light hearted take on open world game design with fun economies and great environments.
NOOOO....!!! 😱😭
Merge Games is one of my chosen publisher for certain indie games in physical release on PS4 / PS5 such as Yonder the Cloud Catcher Chronicles, Horse Club Adventures games, Street of Rage 4, Time on Frog Island, Spirit if the North, Whiskers Water, etc.
Sad to see one of my chosen publisher who keep supply PS4 / PS5 with interesting 3rd party kids games for my PS4 & PS5 machine is gone. 🥺
Once again, working class staff are outta luck, and the top gets golden parachutes.
Enough is enough. I won't be buying anything from "Maximum Entertainment "
Well this is depressing…
Oh, i want to add
Maximum Entertainment was from Just For Games publisher and i saw the games like Spirit of the North 2 , Overthrown are published by Maximum Entertainment.
Well, if that publisher still able to deliver 3rd party kids games for my PS5 machins, i will support their games.
Maximum Entertainment kept the Minimum amount of Merge employees they wanted.
As always with news like this, thats a shame...😞
Yeah, Maximum is weird
That's such a shame. They published some great games physically here in the UK. I have quite a few, such as Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Dead Cells, and Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. They've still got some physicals set as "coming soon" on their website, such as Spirittea. I wonder if they'll still come out.
Really unfortunate and the original post getting replaced with that other notice just adds insult to injury - not only because it tries to minimize what happened, but also because the original was such a nice message despite the situation... as always wish the best to those affected!
I have quite a few Merge Games, hope Maximum Entertainment keep up the physicals
This is unfortunate. Merge games have published some pretty good games.
The way the landscape is changing Publishers are becoming less and less needed which is great for developers because they get more of the money that they deserve.
One of my close friends is building a game and they don't want to use a publisher because they know how much they could lose to them.
Just to put it in perspective when selling a video game you already lose 30% to most storefronts before you even pay your taxes and then some Publishers depending on what services they provide could take up to another 30%, some cases even more before you get your money.
That's quite a good set of published games. Most of those I have downloaded and enjoyed too. Ah, bad news....
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