IGN can exclusively reveal the launch of Midwest Games, a new regionally focused video game publisher headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
At the helm of the new studio is Ben Kvalo, an industry veteran with prior experience as Netflix senior management. Kvalo says the goal of the new studio is to focus on creating opportunities for talent across the Midwest and in other underrepresented regions.
“Coming from the Midwest, I’m well aware of the challenges of breaking into and building a career within the games industry from here,” Kvalo tells IGN. “Currently, the Midwest ranks at the bottom among US regions in terms of both game output and employment opportunities. Not coincidentally, it’s also the only US region lacking an established, dedicated video game publisher collaborating with local developers.
“We intend to shift this landscape. While we’re headquartered in the Midwest, that’s not where our focus ends. We’re putting our flag in the ground and asserting that you can do this here. And if we can achieve success here, this creates a proof point it can be done anywhere — not only in traditional industry hotspots.”
Midwest Games’ leadership is also made up of co-founder and Head of Partnerships Robert Martin III, Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Corbett, Chief Project Officer Chris Klimecky, and board members Mark James and Liz Kuehn. This group brings experience from companies including Meta, 2K, Striking Distance Studios, Crunchyroll, Discovery Communications, and more.
Along with the reveal of the new publisher, Midwest Games revealed its first publishing partnership. Midwest Games will work with Cincinatti-based developer Gylee Games to release Ra Ra Boom, a 4-player cooperative beat ’em up, with 2D action taking place in a hand-drawn art style. IGN can exclusively reveal the new trailer for Ra Ra Boom, which you can check out below.
Ra Ra Boom will tell a coming-of-age narrative about four ninja cheerleaders from outer space fighting against an army of AI robots.
“We met with many publishers during the development of Ra Ra Boom, and found that Midwest Games was the closest match to our goals and values,” says Gylee Games founder Chris Bergman. “We’re not just working hard to create successful games, we want to expand the opportunities for all developers in our hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the rest of the Midwest.”
Fans attending 2D Con in Minnesota later this month can go to a panel introducing Midwest Games on Saturday, August 26, at 1 p.m. There will also be a Ra Ra Boom gameplay contest the next day at 1 p.m.
Midwest Games is backed by TitletownTech, a venture capital firm led by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and Microsoft.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over seven years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
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