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

Kenny Sun's approach to game development is characterized by his relentless work ethic. Upon learning that his recently released title, Ball x Pit, has sold over one million copies in its first month, Sun remains unfazed and continues to focus on his upcoming projects. "I'm not really thinking about it," he says. This reaction is typical of Sun, according to Nigel Lowrie, co-founder and marketing lead of Devolver Digital. "We keep sharing positive news with Kenny about sales milestones, critical reception, and community engagement, but he just acknowledges it and goes back to work." Lowrie adds, "There's always something new happening, and we joke that we can't get Kenny too excited because he's always working on the next thing. It's amazing to see." Devolver Digital has announced three updates for Ball x Pit, scheduled for release next year. "We're always surprised by the amount of content Kenny has in store," says Lowrie. The development of Ball x Pit began four years ago, when Sun was working on Return to Monkey Island as a programmer at Terrible Toybox. Initially, Ball x Pit was a weekend project inspired by a mobile game called PunBall. Sun explains, "I liked the concept, but I didn't love some of the elements, such as the free-to-play aspects. I wanted to create my own version without those features, and it evolved into something entirely different." Sun eventually pitched Ball x Pit to several publishers, including Devolver Digital, which had previously passed on his projects Circa Infinity and Mr Sun's Hatbox. However, Devolver decided to support Ball x Pit. Lowrie notes, "We've always recognized Kenny's talent, but we need to believe that we can help make a project bigger. Otherwise, it's better for the developer to handle it themselves. From the start, we knew Ball x Pit was special, and the positive response during Steam Next Fest validated our decision." Despite this, Devolver was cautious with its expectations for the title. The company forecasted sales of around 300,000 copies in the first year, but the game exceeded this milestone within the first five days and has since more than tripled in sales. Lowrie comments, "We're optimistically conservative with our forecasts. We didn't expect it to sell a million copies in six weeks. The game's success is a result of the positive reception from influencers, press, and platform partners, which built upon itself." The game's structure, while not entirely original, has been well-received due to its respect for the player's time. Lowrie explains, "The game loop is engaging, and the player is always getting something new. It's not wasting their time, and the rewards are handed out at a regular pace." He cites the unlockable characters, buildings, and ball combinations as examples of compelling rewards. Earlier this year, Devolver announced that it would be reducing its investment in individual third-party indie games. The publisher is shifting its focus towards smaller, more agile titles. Lowrie sees this as a return to Devolver's roots, and the success of Ball x Pit supports this strategy. "We've had the most success with smaller-scoped titles, which allow us to take more risks and support creative, unique projects. Our goal is to continue finding smaller games with creative visions and bringing them to the spotlight." Despite the game's success, Sun remains relaxed and focused on his work. When asked what drives his passion for game development, he says, "At this point, I've been doing it for so long that I don't know if I could do anything else. The joy comes from having an idea and making it a reality. When everything comes together, it's an amazing feeling."