Latest news with #BlakeRochkind
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'We're not going to sign every game': Lyrical Games aims to fill the gap between Indie and AAA
Image via: Lyrical Games In an industry of extremes, multimillion-dollar blockbusters on one side and low-budget indies on the other, Lyrical Games is betting big on the intermediates. Founded early in 2025 by industry veteran Blake Rochkind and Lyrical Media CEO Alexander Black, the newly minted publisher seeks to go far beyond mere clamoring in the noise: it wants to put at least half of the dialogue in perspective. A Publisher in Transition Rochkind's exit from the Private Division, once its Art Department for independent talent under the Take-Two umbrella came during times of turbulence. Layoffs, closures and a silent acquisition by Haveli Investments not only marked a watershed moment for the publisher but did so for Rochkind himself. After weathering the storm and directing the company through the internal private equity transition, Rochkind stepped down. "You're either all in or all out on the new thing," he recalled. "And I ultimately chose the latter." What came next wasn't a retreat, it was a reinvention. Bridging the Gap Between Indie and AAA Lyrical Games is not looking to be another mass-market juggernaut. Instead, it aims to fill that oft-overlooked space between top-tier indies and fully fledged AAA productions. Rochkind sees enormous value in the so-called Triple-I space, polishing games of great ambition by smaller teams with multi-million dollar budgets but without the bloat of AAA development. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jolie-Pitt Family Shows Support For Shiloh's Change Drivepedia Undo "We're not going to sign every game," cautions Rochkind. "We have to choose wisely." That sense of focus is really the core of Lyrical's identity. The publisher is intentionally selective, choosing to work with studios with proven experience shipping games together but that also come to development with a holistic or end-to-end vision: everything from creative direction to branding to pricing. A New Cycle for a Shifting Industry Although many publishers are getting tighter in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty, Lyrical has chosen to take a different stand: maybe this is the perfect time to build something new. Back when the industry flourished in its super cycle, all good days seemed to be constant; Lyrical, stepping inside an industry that has matured, now sees a more sustainable and creatively fertile period ahead. 'Developers were contacting us after we announced we were open for business all day, it was just overwhelming,' says Rochkind. 'We are like an oasis in the desert right now.' The Lyrical team absolutely acknowledged that scarcity. They are not chasing just any opportunity but rather investing in a few well-thought-through partnerships: this includes the upcoming game from Homeworld 3 developer Blackbird Interactive, along with two others shortly to be announced. Looking Beyond Graphics In a world where photorealism is no longer the main benchmark, Lyrical Games is interested in going beyond the superficial. One reference Rochkind gives is that of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is a very nice-looking title yet not photorealistic and thus owes much of its glory to good design, good mechanics, and a good story. Beyond the business model lies the difference in values: Lyrical places a heavy emphasis on giving developers a seat at the creative table. It goes beyond funding; it's about partnership. By going after smart, scalable, and creatively ambitious games, Lyrical Games thereby threatens not to be the savior of the supposedly "lost middle" but stands as a signal that the middle was never really lost; it was just waiting for someone to believe in it again. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Producer Lyrical Media Launches New Game Publisher Led By Take-Two, UTA Alum Blake Rochkind
Production company Lyrical Media is launching Lyrical Games a new, privately funded game publisher with its first three titles in production. Blake Rochkind, former Head of Business Development at Take-Two's Private Division, will oversee Lyrical Games, which says it aims to support imaginative and high-caliber games that live between the extremes of smaller indies and large productions. Rochkind was previously a Video Game Agent at United Talent Agency. More from Deadline Emily Henry Adapting 'Funny Story' Novel Into Feature Film With Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company Lyrical Media Acquires Reddit/NoSleep Short Story 'Purgatory Games'; Bryan Edward Hill To Adapt For Screen Djimon Hounsou & Halle Berry Join Africa-Set Thriller 'Red Card' Written By 'Bad Boys' Creator George Gallo & Nick Vallelonga He is joined by Roger Kurtz, former Head of Production at Private Division and a team of games publishing veterans from Devolver Digital, Humble Games, Microsoft and more. The company called the new venture 'a continuation of Lyrical Media's mission to empower storytellers and build expansive new worlds through partnerships with promising creative talents. With traditional publishers increasingly backing safe bets and dodging risk, Lyrical Games is stepping up to fund bold developers with vision, polish, and a clear path toward breaking through in an ever-competitive marketplace,' it said. Backed by Lyrical Media and founder and CEO Alexander Black, Lyrical Games has already partnered with top-tier developers and signed three titles including a new title from Blackbird Interactive, the creators of Hardspace: Shipbreaker. The others will be announced soon. 'From the very beginning of Lyrical Media, we set out to be a premier home for amazing storytelling regardless of medium,' Black said. 'We want to empower fiercely passionate game creators by bridging the gap between their art and the players who stand to be moved by it. Lyrical Games has the experience to know that we are nothing without our partners and their vision.' The company is looking to partner with a wide spectrum of developers, from seasoned veterans with years of experience to newer studios looking to push the envelope with fresh ideas. 'At Lyrical Games, we firmly believe developers are often the best stewards of their own games,' said Rochkind. 'In today's landscape, there has never been more noise, and not every developer necessarily needs a publisher. We built Lyrical Games to be the kind of publisher they want to work with. In this new normal, it's never been more important for both developers and their publishing partners to share a clear, holistic vision at the outset—not just for the game itself, but who that audience is and how they can and should be reached. 'In the high end indie or 'triple-i' space, we believe we can offer among the best, if not the best, deal terms available right now,' he added. 'We're not just looking for developers, but for partners who want a meaningful say in all the ways their game will be shown to the world. Developers we work with will always have ownership of their IP, and our partnerships will always value collaboration and transparency above all else.' Lyrical Media is currently in post-production on Adam Wingard's Onslaught and Michael Sarnoski's The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, and Bill Skarsgård, both of which will be distributed by A24. They are also developing a slate of projects, including Funny Story, an adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling romantic comedy, Butcher & Blackbird, based on Brynne Weaver's popular novel and Powerless, a television adaptation of Lauren Roberts' best-selling debut YA novel. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
