Modus Games
Modus Games is a video-game publishing label focused on independent developers and worldwide physical and digital releases.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Modus Games is a video-game publishing label established by Maximum Games to provide publishing, marketing, distribution, and related commercial services to independent developers. It emerged from Maximum Games’ expansion beyond third-party distribution and was initially associated with the 2018 release of Extinction, an action-adventure title developed by Iron Galaxy. The label was formally launched in March 2019, positioning itself around developer partnerships and games released across consoles, personal computers, and digital storefronts. The label’s creation reflected a broader change in Maximum Games’ business. Maximum, founded in 2009 as Maximum Family Games, had originally concentrated on publishing and distributing retail-oriented software before broadening its portfolio to games of different genres and age ratings. It developed experience in physical production, retailer relationships, logistics, international sales, and third-party publishing. Modus Games used that infrastructure while adding a more service-oriented publishing proposition for independent studios. Its activities have included financing or supporting development, platform and release coordination, marketing, physical editions, digital distribution, localization and porting arrangements, and global commercial launches. One of Modus Games’ early defining releases was Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince from Finnish developer Frozenbyte. The title helped establish the label’s association with established independent studios and premium multi-platform releases. Modus subsequently worked with developers on projects spanning action games, role-playing games, fighting games, platformers, strategy experiences, and family or specialist products. Notable published or co-published titles include Cris Tales, Override: Mech City Brawl, Override 2: Super Mech League, Them’s Fightin’ Herds, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons, and various other independent projects. Its catalog has generally combined digital launches with selected physical editions and collector-oriented products. In 2019, Maximum Games acquired Brazilian developer The Balance, Inc., which had worked with the company on Override: Mech City Brawl. The studio was renamed Modus Studios Brazil and remained operationally distinct from the publishing label, while providing development, co-development, and porting capabilities. In January 2022, Maximum Games acquired Mane6, the team behind Them’s Fightin’ Herds. These transactions expanded the wider organization’s ability to participate directly in development as well as publishing. Modus Games also developed a social-impact initiative. In October 2020, it introduced Games Giving Back, a charitable program through which a portion of profits from selected games was donated to organizations connected with the themes or communities represented by those projects. The first announced beneficiary was the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, which supports women through coaching and professional mentorship. The corporate setting around Modus Games changed substantially after Swedish company Zordix acquired Maximum Games in November 2021. Zordix later changed its name to Maximum Entertainment and, in February 2024, announced that Maximum Games, Modus Games, Just For Games, Merge Games, and Modus Studios would be organized under the Maximum Entertainment identity. Modus Games therefore operates as a publishing label within a consolidated entertainment group rather than as an independent listed company. Its continuing role is associated with discovering, funding, publishing, marketing, and distributing independent video games internationally.
History
Modus Games grew out of Maximum Games’ move from traditional game distribution into developer financing and publishing. Maximum Games began in 2009 as Maximum Family Games, initially publishing family-oriented software for Nintendo DS and Wii. It later broadened its catalog, obtained publishing credentials with major platform holders, and developed capabilities in packaging, retail placement, logistics, sales, and international distribution. Those capabilities created a foundation for a label that could serve independent developers across both physical and digital channels. Maximum Games created the Modus Games division in December 2017. The label’s early public association was with Extinction, an action-adventure game developed by Iron Galaxy and released in 2018. Modus Games was fully launched in March 2019 with a stated emphasis on full-service publishing for independent developers. Rather than functioning solely as a distributor, it sought to support projects through marketing, release planning, platform coordination, physical production, digital storefront management, and international sales. Its first major publishing relationships included established independent studios such as Frozenbyte, whose Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince became one of the label’s early signature releases. The label’s portfolio developed across multiple genres and platforms. It worked on titles including Override: Mech City Brawl, Cris Tales, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, Override 2: Super Mech League, and Them’s Fightin’ Herds. Modus also entered the premium-collectibles market through a collector’s edition for Cris Tales, extending its role beyond standard digital publishing into specialized physical products. The company’s wider corporate infrastructure allowed it to offer selected games in both retail and digital formats across international markets. Modus Games’ development capabilities expanded through corporate acquisitions. In 2019, Maximum Games purchased The Balance, Inc., a Brazilian studio that had worked on Override: Mech City Brawl. The studio was renamed Modus Studios Brazil and operated separately from the publishing division, while contributing development, co-development, and porting services. In January 2022, Maximum Games acquired Mane6, the developer of Them’s Fightin’ Herds. These moves gave the wider group more direct access to production resources while leaving Modus Games primarily identified as the publishing label. In October 2020, Modus Games announced Games Giving Back, a charitable initiative under which a portion of profits from selected games would be donated to relevant nonprofit organizations. The first announced donation supported the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, an organization focused on coaching and mentoring women. The initiative connected game launches with social-impact fundraising and became one of the label’s notable public-facing programs. The ownership of the label changed in November 2021, when Swedish company Zordix acquired Maximum Games. Zordix subsequently changed its corporate name to Maximum Entertainment. In February 2023, several development operations, including Modus Studios Brazil and Mane6, were consolidated into Modus Studios. In February 2024, Maximum Entertainment announced a further corporate consolidation in which Modus Games was grouped with Maximum Games, Just For Games, Merge Games, and Modus Studios under the Maximum Entertainment umbrella. Modus Games consequently remains an active publishing identity within a larger multi-label games company, with its historical role centered on independent development partnerships, worldwide publishing, and mixed physical-digital distribution.
- 2024
Maximum Entertainment consolidation
[2]Modus Games is grouped with several related publishing and development labels under Maximum Entertainment.
- 2022
Mane6 joins the wider group
[2]Maximum Games acquires Mane6, the team behind Them’s Fightin’ Herds.
- 2021
Maximum Games changes ownership
[2]Zordix acquires Maximum Games, including the Modus Games label.
- 2020
Games Giving Back is introduced
[1]Modus Games begins a charitable program linked to selected game profits and nonprofit beneficiaries.
- 2019
Formal launch and Trine 4 partnership
[1]Modus Games is fully launched and publishes Frozenbyte’s Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince.
- 2019
The Balance becomes Modus Studios Brazil
[1]Maximum Games acquires The Balance, Inc. and rebrands the Brazilian studio as Modus Studios Brazil.
- 2018
Extinction becomes the label’s early launch title
[1]Iron Galaxy’s action-adventure game Extinction is released under the emerging Modus Games identity.
- 2017
Maximum Games creates Modus Games
[1]Maximum Games establishes Modus Games as a publishing division aimed at supporting independent game developers.
Products and positioning
A full-service publisher for independent and mid-sized game developers, combining development support with international marketing, physical production, digital distribution, and retail expertise.
Action-adventure video game · 2018
Extinction
An action-adventure title developed by Iron Galaxy and associated with the initial emergence of Modus Games. It represented Maximum Games’ early move toward funding and publishing larger original projects through a dedicated label.
Platform-adventure video game · 2019
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince
Frozenbyte’s cooperative platform-adventure game and one of Modus Games’ first prominent fully launched publishing projects. The title helped establish the label’s relationship with experienced independent developers and its multi-platform publishing model.
Fighting video game · 2018
Override: Mech City Brawl
A multiplayer fighting game developed by The Balance, Inc. in which players control large mechanized characters. Its publishing relationship preceded Maximum Games’ acquisition of The Balance and the studio’s conversion into Modus Studios Brazil.
Fighting video game · 2020
Override 2: Super Mech League
The follow-up to Override: Mech City Brawl, developed by the studio that became Modus Studios Brazil. It illustrates the connection between Modus’ publishing operations and the group’s acquired development resources.
Role-playing video game · 2021
Cris Tales
An independently developed role-playing game published by Modus Games. The project was also used for the label’s first documented move into specialized collectibles through an announced collector’s edition.
Fighting video game · 2020
Them’s Fightin’ Herds
A competitive fighting game developed by Mane6 and published by Modus Games. Mane6 was later acquired by Maximum Games, bringing the development team into the wider corporate group.
Beat ’em up video game · 2023
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
A modern entry in the Double Dragon franchise published by Modus Games. It represents the label’s work with recognizable game properties alongside original independent projects.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Games Giving Back
International
Modus Games launched an ongoing charitable initiative that directs a portion of profits from selected game releases to nonprofit organizations, with beneficiaries selected in relation to the featured game or its themes.
Outcome. The first announced beneficiary was the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, which provides coaching and mentorship intended to help women advance professionally.
Brand decisions
2024
Consolidate publishing brands under Maximum EntertainmentStrategyBackground
After Zordix acquired Maximum Games and adopted the Maximum Entertainment name, the group reorganized several publishing and development identities.
Action taken
Modus Games was grouped with Maximum Games, Just For Games, Merge Games, and Modus Studios under the Maximum Entertainment umbrella.
Aftermath
Modus Games continued as a recognizable publishing label within a consolidated corporate structure rather than as a standalone company.
2022
Acquire Mane6M&ABackground
Mane6 was the development team behind Them’s Fightin’ Herds, a title associated with Modus Games.
Action taken
Maximum Games purchased Mane6.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased the wider group’s direct development capacity and preceded the later consolidation of development operations into Modus Studios.
2019
Acquire and rebrand The BalanceM&ABackground
The Balance, Inc. had partnered with Maximum Games on Override: Mech City Brawl.
Action taken
Maximum Games acquired the Brazilian developer and renamed it Modus Studios Brazil.
Aftermath
The studio continued to operate independently of the publishing arm while providing development, co-development, and porting services.
2017
Create a dedicated independent-publishing labelStrategyBackground
Maximum Games had developed capabilities in retail distribution, logistics, physical production, and international sales and sought to participate more directly in game development and publishing.
Action taken
It established Modus Games as a division focused on full-service publishing for independent developers.
Aftermath
The label expanded into multi-platform publishing and became a distinct brand within the later Maximum Entertainment group.
Recent events
Reported
Cris Tales release delayed to early 2021[4]
Publisher Modus Games and developers Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK announced that the release of Cris Tales, previously set for November 17, 2020, had been postponed to early 2021. Modus Games said the delay would give the developers a chance to bring fans the best version of the game.
Sources4 sources
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