South Korean game publisher Neowiz has signed a global publishing deal with Shadowlight, an independent Shanghai-based studio. The partnership covers Kill the Shadow, Shadowlight's first game — a narrative-driven detective adventure where players rewind time to solve cases in a fictional post-war city split by conflict.
Neowiz to Publish Shadowlight's First Game
About Kill the Shadow
Kill the Shadow pairs high-definition 3D environments with 2D pixel-art characters, creating a visual style that mixes modern and retro aesthetics. Story and deduction sit at the core of the gameplay. A demo launched during Steam Next Fest in 2023 and drew positive responses for its narrative structure, investigation systems, and art direction.
Neowiz's Continued Focus on Story-Driven Titles
Neowiz has spent 25 years building a catalog that includes casual hits like Cats & Soup and the soulslike Lies of P, a Pinocchio-inspired action game that became one of 2023's standout sellers. The company pulled in $51M USD in Q2 2023. Last year, Neowiz launched Intella X, its web3 gaming arm, through a partnership with the Avalanche blockchain.
The Kill the Shadow deal reflects Neowiz's shift toward narrative-focused games for PC and console platforms. After Lies of P's success in 2023, the publisher has expanded its roster through collaborations with studios like Zakazane and Wolfeye. Co-CEO Kim Seung-chul pointed to Shadowlight's collaborative development style and commitment to premium storytelling as reasons for the partnership.
Neowiz to Publish Shadowlight's First Game
Shadowlight's Background and Development
Shadowlight was founded by five recent university graduates in Shanghai who had worked together on student game projects. The team has won multiple awards in national competitions, which drew industry attention. In 2023, the studio secured investment from Hypergryph, the developer behind the mobile game Arknights, and joined Hypergryph's Coreblazer incubator program. Shadowlight CEO Black has emphasized the team's focus on creativity, cultural inclusiveness, and a shared development philosophy that aligns with Neowiz's publishing approach.
Strengthening Global Reach
The Shadowlight deal is part of Neowiz's broader push to diversify its global publishing lineup by working with smaller, independent teams. The publisher has built a reputation for backing emerging studios with strong narrative ambitions. With Kill the Shadow, Neowiz continues its expansion into international markets by supporting content that prioritizes storytelling and approachable gameplay.
Both companies plan to share more details on Kill the Shadow's release as development moves forward. The partnership reflects a wider industry trend where publishers and indie developers collaborate to bring story-driven titles to broader audiences across multiple platforms.
