Indie publisher Merge Games closes after 15 years

Merge Games, the well-known indie publisher, is closing its doors after 15 years in operation, following recent layoffs and the closure of its office. The publisher, responsible for popular titles like Dead Cells and Darkest Dungeon, shared the news in a recent announcement on social media.

The company, which started as a small venture in an attic, had grown into a 22-person team and had published hundreds of indie games over the years. In a reflective statement, Merge Games acknowledged that its success was a collective effort, from the developers to the passionate players who supported their games. The company emphasized that the dedication of its employees was key to this journey, highlighting the hard work and commitment of everyone involved with the publisher.

Earlier this month, news surfaced about layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of employees and the closure of the Merge Games office in Chelford. This was part of a larger consolidation effort by its parent company, Maximum Entertainment, which had begun restructuring in February.

As part of this consolidation, Merge Games’ portfolio is being absorbed into Maximum Entertainment. While the future of the publisher’s catalog is being integrated into its parent company’s operations, further details and comments from Maximum Entertainment are still awaited.

It’s important to note that Merge Games was initially reported as the publisher of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. However, the company only handled the physical release, while the original game was published by Dotemu.