Team17 expands publishing initiative to mobile

Team17 MD Debbie Bestwick told Develop the studio chose to expand its publishing programme because of a rush of interested from other studios looking to get their games on digital stores.

“Since announcing third party publishing last year, we’ve been inundated with requests to look at many games on many platforms,” said Bestwick.

“We have a track record of self-publishing on mobile and being successful so it’s quite an obvious move. Hay Ewe is one of the first games we’ve really wanted to publish and look forward to announcing other’s over the coming months.”

The Yorkshire studio and creator of the Worms franchise, reopened its publishing arm last year, taking on Light by Brighton-based indie team Just a Pixel, which Team17 part-funded.

Marketing, cross-promotion and localisation are also part of the tailored packages the studio offers.

The first title to benefit from Team17’s return to third-party publishing is Hay Ewe by Rocket Rainbow.

“When we saw that Team17 were re-entering the publishing arena we were over the moon. Team17 has such an incredible history and the whole team is excited at the prospect of working together,” said Rocket Rainbow co-founder and production JP Vaughan.

Bestwick added: “The team at Rocket Rainbow have an incredible pedigree of working on great games prior to forming their own studio. We’re honoured to be their partner to help bring Hay Ewe to mobile and tablets.”

Centring on the adventures of Matilda the sheep, Hay Ewe is billed as an unorthodox, fast-paced puzzle game. Navigate challenging puzzles and avoid treacherous obstacles in order to rounding up and lead your lambs to safety.

Hay Ewe is due for release on mobile and tablets in the second quarter of 2014.