E3 can be an exhausting time. Every year around this time we all gather around our computers to receive an onslaught of gaming news and announcements from every major developer and publisher. Of course this year the event was canceled, but that didn't stop every company from holding their own online conference to shout out every game in a rapid-fire barrage. If anything, E3's death somehow created a space that led to even more news that we can all barely keep track of.
It's not all bad, though. Sometimes we get exciting reveals for sequels to cult classics or new titles from famous and beloved creators. But mostly, it's just a showcase for the advanced sweat physics in that year's edition of a major sports title. Whatever it is, it's usually given to us in the same way: with executives walking on stage or smiling into a webcam while they read off whatever marketing materials were handed to them. It's always stale, long, boring, and leaves everyone feeling like a soulless advertising robot just drilled into their brains and replaced their thoughts with urges to spend more money.
As big-time developers become more predatory and greedy it's hard to shake the feeling that the products they're showing are just going to be another way for them to bilk us all out of more money. Every company seems to want to follow the unethical practices of corporations like EA or Activision so they can rake in more and more revenue. In an ironic twist, the companies that make these games that are supposed to bring us joy seem utterly devoid of joy themselves.
That's why we need a company like Devolver Digital.
Every Company Should Be As Violent and Insane
Today was their annual Devolver Direct, a parody of the cloying, insincere digital gaming showcases from other developers that also doubles as their own digital gaming showcase. Obviously, the point of this livestream was to show their upcoming titles like Carrion or Shadow Warrior 3. It was a marketing tool used in the same way as every other gaming company.
The key difference here is that most other gaming showcases don't feature someone being shot in the head by a sniper rifle. Or a talking ball of flesh and tentacles that demands more screen time. Or a gross man claiming to be the infamous "uncle who works for Nintendo" who reveals that Yoshi spent time in prison and Kirby was in the middle of a messy divorce. And most importantly of all, most other gaming showcases don't have Nina effin' Struthers.
Whereas other companies might trot out names like Sony's Shuhei Yoshida to talk about indie games, Devolver makes him talk about how some of the Fall Guys - from the new game Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout of course - ate each other. They make that same nasty uncle pull a VHS tape out of his pants that announces an interesting new game with great-looking pixel art. They do something that no other developer seems capable of doing: they make game announcements fun.
Hell, the last game they showed off is nothing more a marketing tool disguised as a free game but even that's a creative and unique idea. Which is what Developer was always been all about. For years now they've been behind companies that have had some of the weirdest, most creative gaming experiences that most other developers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. They've helped put out indie gems like Hotline Miami, Enter The Gungeon, Hatoful Boyfriend, Downwell, Minit, The Messenger, Gris, Ape Out, and more. They've taken risks that have paid off to give us some of the most original, artistic, and just plain delightful games ever.
Unlike most of these corporations, Devolver has a rebellious spirit that translates into the games they choose to publish and the way they show them off. The last few years of Devolver Directs are one ongoing storyline involving their CEO being horribly murdered and brought back to life as a mindless vessel to shill more and more games. It references movies like The Terminator and Robocop while adding in as much vulgar humor and wanton violence as possible. To top it off, they managed to use their own advertisement as a means to criticize every other company for how transparently blatant they are about wanting your money.
Never Change Devolver, For The Love Of God Please, Never Change
These Directs make us laugh and want to play their games, which is absolutely brilliant. But most importantly of all, they seem to be a company that wants gamers to play games that are just fun. It's rare to see a project that comes from that isn't at least fascinating in some way.
Devolver Digital are insane lunatics who somehow continue to be one of the most exciting publishers in the gaming business today. We can only hope they never change and that Nina Struthers continues to shout at us hopeless, mouth-breathing idiots for years to come.