Devolver's new label is dedicated to creating games based on comics and films, TV shows, and cult heroes.

Devolver announced today that it will begin publishing game adaptations for films, comics and TV shows, as well as "cult heroes", under the label Big Fan. Big Fan, like Devolver, will focus on independent studios. This will lead to potentially more risky (or realistically budgeted!) adaptations. Think of John Wick Hex which was published by Devolver subsidiary Good Shepherd.

Big Fan has already worked on a number of properties, including Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Blair Witch. The team also has experience with Dune, Dune, Lord of the Rings and Dark Horse Comics. Big Fan is actually Good Shepherd with a new name and mission statement.

Devolver's announcement states: "We believe, and have seen first-hand, that great games that propel established franchises can offer fans a connection that only an interactive experience can provide." "Independent games developed in these universes are able to explore them in unexpected and new ways. It's our goal that fans will be able to expect."

The announcement also invites people, perhaps in an unwise way, to get in touch with any ideas they may have. It doesn't specify that they must be good. So go nuts. (Since Big Fan is listening, I think that a Telltale Games version of Curb Your Enthusiasm will be a multibillion-dollar seller and Larry David would definitely be a "cult-hero").

Big Fan has rebranded some titles that were previously published by Good Shepherd and Devolver, including John Wick Hex as well as Hellboy Web of Wryd and Reigns Game of Thrones. Representatives from the studio confirmed to Gamesindustry.biz six active projects.

The videogame adaptations of movies, TV shows, comics--you know, anything--had a reputation for being soulless, half-assed money-grabs. But in the last decade, this narrative has changed dramatically: think of the Arkham Trilogy, the Spider-Man Games, etc. It's up for debate whether this is because studios that make film tie-ins are waking up to the daisies or that certain mass market entertainment products have become more punishingly prevalent over the last 20 years.