Phiphen, a company engaged in film and television production, has ventured into the gaming industry by establishing a new publishing division focused on game development
Phiphen, a production company in the United States focusing on film and television, is entering the gaming industry by launching a new publishing division, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz.
Molly Conners, the founder and CEO of Phiphen, will lead Phiphen Games. She shared that the company has previously made selective investments in gaming projects and is eager to deepen its involvement in the sector.
Conners stated, "We recognized that there are numerous parallels between the gaming and film industries, and we realized we could leverage our extensive experience in film and project management to benefit game developers."
She further explained, "By utilizing a model similar to that of our film endeavors, we can aid developers in ensuring their games achieve a successful launch, all while allowing them to maintain a fair and significant stake in their intellectual property."
Phiphen has largely concentrated on independent film and television, but its portfolio includes notable projects. For instance, last year’s film Daddio featured actors Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, and the company was also involved in Wish You Were Here, which marked Julia Stiles’ directorial debut.
Conners is optimistic that Phiphen's film and television experience will equip it to meet the challenges associated with launching new video games.
She added, "Our track record of managing these projects efficiently, respecting creative vision, and meeting investor expectations has earned us a reputation that we can apply directly to the gaming sector. We have assembled an excellent team of industry veterans in gaming to assist us. Moreover, we have the unique capability of evaluating projects for their transmedia potential right from the outset and integrating that into our strategy if it aligns with our goals."
The inaugural title from Phiphen Games will be Ruffy and the Riverside, a charming 3D puzzle platformer developed by German studio Zockrates Labs. This game allows players to alter the textures of any in-game object, such as transforming a waterfall into climbable vines, and is slated for release on PC and consoles in early 2025.
Conners also clarified that this initial title does not set a precedent for future game types; like its film projects, Phiphen will assess each gaming venture individually.
She noted that while the company has yet to finalize how many games it will release annually, Phiphen Games intends to be "selective and... not merely operate as a publishing machine that churns out numerous games in hopes of finding a successful title."
