Vela Games CEO Travis George Reflects on the Demise and Rebirth of Evercore Heroes

Travis George, CEO of Vela Games, has learned a valuable lesson in the games industry: past success is no guarantee of future success. This realization came after the untimely death and subsequent rebirth of Evercore Heroes, a game that aimed to create a welcoming online experience but ultimately fell short. George's career in the gaming industry began at Activision, but it was his time at Riot Games, working on League of Legends, that shaped his vision for Vela Games. He co-founded the Dublin-based studio in 2018 with the goal of creating a friendly online game that addressed some of the negative aspects of League of Legends. Evercore Heroes launched into closed beta in June 2023, but the game's competitive PvE title and unique gameplay mechanics failed to attract a large enough audience. Despite having a core group of dedicated fans, the game's funding landscape had changed dramatically, and Vela was forced to scale back the team and wind down the game. In hindsight, George recognizes that the original concept for Evercore Heroes was too complicated, leading to barriers to entry for new players. The team had attempted to innovate on the idea of competitive PvE, but the execution was flawed. The beta received mixed feedback, with some praising the game's technical aspects but criticizing its unclear gameplay loop. The funding bubble had burst by 2023, and Vela was left with no choice but to downsize the studio and re-evaluate its approach. George made the difficult decision to lay off around 80% of the team, a move he describes as "gutting." However, he believes that doing so in one swift motion was better than drawing out the process and creating a "doom loop" of continuous layoffs. The new version of the game, Evercore Heroes: Ascension, has been completely reimagined as a roguelite with procedurally generated missions. The game launches into Steam Early Access, offering a fresh start for Vela Games. George cautions other developers against rushing into releasing a game without ensuring it's great, emphasizing the importance of assessing the addressable market and finding an audience before launching. Vela Games' experience serves as a reminder that the games industry is inherently challenging, and even with a second chance, success is not guaranteed. George's advice to other developers is to start small, grow gradually, and ensure that their game meets the needs and wants of its target audience. By doing so, they can increase their chances of success and avoid the pitfalls that Vela Games faced with Evercore Heroes.