Devolver's Focus on Innovative Titles Pays Off with Ball x Pit's Million-Selling Success

Kenny Sun's laid-back demeanor is evident when discussing his game, Ball x Pit, which has sold over one million copies in its first month. "I'm not really thinking about it," he says, preferring to focus on his next project. Nigel Lowrie, co-founder of Devolver Digital, attributes Sun's attitude to his relentless work ethic. "We keep sharing good news with Kenny, but he's always like, 'Cool,' and then he's back to work." Sun started working on Ball x Pit four years ago as a weekend project, drawing inspiration from a mobile game called PunBall. He pitched the game to several publishers, and Devolver Digital finally agreed to work with him on the title. Lowrie notes that Devolver was cautious with its expectations, initially forecasting 300,000 copies sold in the first year. However, the game surpassed this milestone within five days and has since tripled in sales. Lowrie believes that the game's structure, which combines combat action with base-building progression, is mindful of the player's time, always providing something new and engaging to try. He cites the game's unlockable characters, buildings, and ball combinations as examples of compelling rewards. Devolver's strategy of investing in smaller, more agile titles seems to have paid off with Ball x Pit's success. As a developer, Sun finds joy in bringing his ideas to life. "When everything comes together, it's a really amazing feeling," he says. With Devolver's focus on smaller, creative titles, the publisher is well-positioned to continue finding and supporting innovative games like Ball x Pit.