Former Kepler Interactive VP Heads New Indie Publisher Gambit Digital

A veteran of the gaming industry, Zac Antonaci, previously VP of publishing and marketing at Kepler Interactive, has been appointed CEO of Gambit Digital, a newly established indie publisher based in Montreal. Antonaci's departure from Kepler occurred in February, following a tenure of approximately three and a half years, during which the company released notable titles such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Rematch. Prior to his role at Kepler, Antonaci served as director of publishing at Frontier Developments, the Cambridge-based studio behind Planet Coaster and Jurassic World Evolution. Gambit Digital is an integral part of Indie Asylum, a thriving indie ecosystem in Montreal that encompasses over 200 developers across 18 studios. The company aims to provide publishing support for various games developed by the collective. The founding team of Gambit Digital boasts an impressive array of industry experts, including studio heads and seasoned veterans. Notably, commercial director Chad Young previously held the position of senior director of publishing at Frontier, while publishing director Kevin Chancey serves as general manager at the video game marketing agency Purple is Royal. Chris Chancey, chief operating officer, is also president of the indie studio ManaVoid Entertainment, known for the non-violent RPG Rainbow Billy: The Curse of The Leviathan and the rogue-like city builder Roots of Yggdrasil. Furthermore, Kim Berthiaume, chief commercial officer, is interactive creative director at ManaVoid, and Pascal Nataf, chief strategy officer, co-founded Affordance Studio, a previous finalist in the Canadian Best Places to Work Awards, alongside Purple is Royal. Emphasizing the close ties between the publisher and the indie studios it represents, Chris Chancey stated, 'Gambit Digital is dedicated to leveling the playing field in favor of developers.' 'As developers ourselves, we understand the risks and challenges involved in scaling up and finding the right partners. Our goal at Gambit is to provide studios with the flexibility, choice, and resources necessary to succeed, while remaining true to the core reasons we create games.' Gambit Digital is committed to offering a range of services tailored to the diverse needs of indie studios. These services include shadow publishing, where Gambit provides publishing support behind the scenes, allowing studios to maintain their role as publisher of record. The company will also offer traditional investment and publishing, console porting, and publishing via an in-house team, as well as 'post-launch growth,' which involves driving sales of already released titles by expanding into new regions and exploring new commercial opportunities. According to Antonaci, 'Modern publishing must transcend mere transactions and foster long-term partnerships.' 'At Gambit Digital, our focus is on collaborating closely with developers to not only launch their games but also build sustainable momentum in the long term. From porting to post-launch growth, our mission is to expand possibilities and equip studios with the tools and opportunities necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving global market.'