"It's not sexy, but it's one of the most successful genres on Steam" – Stronghold developer Firefly steps up to publisher to serve the vast strategy market

Firefly, the developer behind the popular Stronghold strategy games, has ventured into the publishing realm by launching Wuselfaktory, a new label dedicated to strategy-focused titles. The company recently showcased its first publication, Fool King, a tactical autobattler with roguelike elements, at UKIE's For One Night Only event.

Firefly's head, Nick Tannahill, asserts that the company's expertise in strategy games makes it well-suited for this endeavor. Wuselfaktory aims to capitalize on a genre that has proven successful on PC platforms, including titles from Paradox Interactive and Hooded Horse. Firefly will fund and support the marketing of Fool King, while Devolver provides a producer for localization and quality assurance.

The studio already has a publishing team in place due to its experience in maintaining and developing strategy games since 2010. Tannahill emphasizes the value of Firefly's involvement in the publishing process, offering developers development assistance and feedback on UI and game design. The company sources promising strategy games and supports them throughout the development process.

Firefly's move into publishing comes on the recommendation of its parent company, Devolver, which aims to bolster its strategy game offerings. The company recognizes the vast and underserved potential of the strategy genre on PC platforms, particularly on Steam, where many classic strategy games remain unexplored.