Good Shepherd Entertainment (formerly Gambitious Digital Entertainment) is a Dutch video game publisher based in Amsterdam. The company was founded in 2011 and opened its equity crowdfunding platform in September 2012. Gambitious' publishing label was opened in 2014, offering publishing services. In August 2017, Gambitious Digital Entertainment was rebranded Good Shepherd Entertainment whereas it ceased its crowdfunding activities and fully transitioned into being a publisher. Having been a consultant to the company prior, Brian Grigsby now became the CEO of the company.

History

Founding (2011–2012)

Gambitious Digital Entertainment was established in 2011 by chief executive officer Paul Hanraets. Founding partners include Mike Wilson and Harry Miller of Devolver Digital, Sjoerd Geurts, and Andy Payne. Additional funding was provided by business funding platform Symbid. The company and its crowdfunding platform, also called Gambitious, were formally announced in February 2012. By June 2012, the company was headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with another office in Austin, Texas, United States. The shareholdings of Miller and Wilson, while independent from Devolver Digital, made for a controlling interest.

Crowdfunding (2012–2017) Gambitious' crowdfunding platform was opened on 25 September 2012. The platform was described as a hybrid crowd-finance platform and indie publishing label. The first product featured on Gambitious' platform was to be a sequel to Mushroom Men. The first game featured became Train Fever instead.

According to Wilson, the idea behind the company was to create "a platform that brings investors and developers together to create great games to their mutual benefit". In March 2013, Gambitious successfully closed their first equity-based crowdfunding campaign for Train Fever, which raised €250,000 from 640 international investors.

Gambitious also experimented by offering pledging as a funding option on their platform. This resulted in a successful funding for charity SpecialEffect, which raised 113% of it target aimed towards purchasing specialised computers for severely disabled gamers that can be controlled using eye movement.

Due to international regulatory differences on the topic of equity-based crowdfunding, Gambitious was forced to restructure their model several times, leading to the eventual decision to officially separate from Symbid in February 2015 and transition into an independent game publisher. Between 2015 and 2017 Gambitious utilises an evolving set of crowd finance tools and techniques in order to fund their games. Whereby they rely on a private network of investors who invest alongside them under the same exact terms and conditions. In January 2016, Gambitious opened their network to new United States accredited and European investors. On 16 August 2017, Gambitious was rebranded as Good Shepherd Entertainment and transitioned from a crowdfunding platform to a publisher collaborating with a private network of accredited investors upon request. The company also received a new investment by Advance/Newhouse, through which they opened new full-time positions. At this time, the company had 12 employees.

Indie game publishing (2017–present) Every game that Gambitious has signed on has been funded and released, with four of the first six titles delivering profits to investors in the first month following release. Gambitious had a core group of 30 investors.

In 2019, Good Shepherd Entertainment partnered with Lionsgate Games and announced John Wick Hex. Paul Hanraets stated that Good Shepherd intends to focus on triple-I games and similar licence-holder collaborations. According to Hanraets, the company has access to popular pop-culture IPs like John Wick, which it will pair with experienced indie developers.

In April 2019, Good Shepherd Entertainment acquired a majority stake in Artificer, a Warsaw based game development studio founded by the core team responsible for Hard West and Phantom Doctrine. Artificer consists of over 30 team-members who have previously worked on numerous titles including the Call of Juarez and the Dead Island series.

Devolver Digital bought Good Shepherd on 7 January 2021. On January 31, 2024, 25 employees were laid off from Artificer with another 10-12 workers expected to be let go in the next few months.

Games

Games published Year of release Title Developer(s) Platform(s) 2014Train FeverUrban GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows 2015Magnetic: Cage ClosedGuru Games Microsoft Windows, Xbox OneBreach & Clear: Deadline Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsXeodrifterRenegade KidNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VitaPathologic Classic HDIce-Pick Lodge Microsoft WindowsHard WestCreativeForge Games Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsOh...Sir!Vile MonarchiOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows 2016Hard Reset ReduxFlying Wild Hog Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneCrush Your EnemiesVile MonarchAndroid, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsZombie Night TerrorNoClip Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsRunGunJumpGunThirtyThree macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchOh...Sir!! The Insult SimulatorVile Monarch Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchTransport FeverUrban Games Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows 2017DiluvionArachnid Games macOS, Microsoft WindowsOh...Sir! The Hollywood RoastVile Monarch Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchRedeemerSobaka Studio Microsoft Windows 2018Where the Water Tastes Like WineDim Bulb Games Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsMachiaVillainWildFactor Linux, macOS, Microsoft WindowsMilanoirItalo Games Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneSemblanceNyamakop macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchPhantom DoctrineCreativeForge Games Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One2019John Wick HexBithell Games macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox OneBlack Future '88Super Scary Snakes macOS, Microsoft WindowsTransport Fever 2Urban Games Linux, Microsoft Windows2020Monster TrainShiny Shoe Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, PlayStation 5OlliOlli: Switch StanceRoll7Nintendo Switch2021The Eternal CylinderACE Team Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S2022Hard West 2Ice Code Games Microsoft Windows2023ShowgunnersArtificerMicrosoft WindowsHellboy Web of Wyrd Upstream Arcade Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S2024Dicefolk LEAP Game Studios, Tiny Ghoul Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch2024Demon's Mirror Be-Rad Entertainment Microsoft Windows2025Moroi Violet Saint Microsoft Windows

Games re-released Year of re-release Year of original release Title Developer(s) Platform(s) 2015 2014 Breach & Clear Mighty Rabbit Studios Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows 2013 Mutant Mudds Deluxe Renegade Kid Microsoft Windows 2014 Xeodrifter Renegade Kid Microsoft Windows 2011 Hard Reset Flying Wild Hog Microsoft Windows

References

External links