Black Tabby Games Expands with New Publishing Arm: Black Tabby Publishing

Black Tabby Games, the independent studio recognized for titles such as Slay the Princess and Scarlet Hollow, has officially launched its independent publishing arm, Black Tabby Publishing. Co-founded by Tony Howard-Arias and Abby Howard, the two-person studio unveiled this new venture on Thursday.

Black Tabby Publishing has already secured agreements for two games: "Prove You’re Human" from "1000xResist" developer Sunset Visitor, and an unannounced title from the animation duo SmallBü.

Formation and Initial Signings

The establishment of Black Tabby Publishing signifies a strategic expansion for Black Tabby Games, a studio celebrated for its compelling, narrative-driven independent releases. The newly formed publishing division has confirmed its initial two projects. "Prove You’re Human" is being developed by Sunset Visitor, known for their previous work on "1000xResist." The second title is currently an undisclosed project from the animation duo SmallBü.

Stated Motivations and Business Model

Co-founder Tony Howard-Arias indicated that the decision to venture into publishing was spurred by identified issues within the existing publishing landscape. He characterized this landscape as often featuring aggressive deal structures and insufficient support for small studios. A pivotal factor in this decision was the experience of Sunset Visitor founder Remy Siu, who faced difficulties pitching his next project. Howard-Arias and Abby Howard subsequently decided to sign Siu’s project, ultimately leading to the formation of this distinct publishing entity.

Black Tabby Publishing aims to provide crucial financial flexibility to small development teams. They offer "mid-six-figure USD deals" structured specifically so that a studio's survival does not depend on exceptionally high launch performance.

The revenue model stipulates that Black Tabby Publishing will receive 70% of a game's gross revenue (after platform fees) until its initial costs are recouped. At that point, the split reverses, with the developer receiving 70% and the publisher 30%.

Game rights are set to revert to the developer three years after the game's launch. Additionally, publishing contracts include a specific clause prohibiting the use of generative AI in game development, reflecting a commitment to traditional artistic creation.

Vision and Developer Support

Howard-Arias clarified that Black Tabby Publishing is designed as a targeted approach for a specific niche rather than a universal solution for the broader industry. The venture aims to support developers who create "niche art for a niche audience," operating on the principle that quality art can be financially viable without requiring large budgets or millions of units sold.

Black Tabby Games continues to generate its primary revenue from its own game sales; for example, Slay the Princess had sold over 1 million copies by February. The publishing arm is envisioned as a mechanism to assist other studios in achieving self-sufficiency, with the ultimate objective of enabling signed developers to self-fund their future projects.