Telltale

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Telltale logo.png
Telltale
Type Subsidiary of LCG Entertainment
Founded June 2004 (Telltale, Inc.)
August 28, 2019 (assignment to LCG)
Headquarters Malibu, California, US
Key people Kevin Bruner, founder
Dan Connors, founder
Troy Molander, founder
Industry Video games
Products Video games
Number of people 250 (prior to 9/21/18)
25 (prior to assignment)
Website http://www.telltale.com/

Telltale is a game development brand held by LCG Entertainment.

Formation

Telltale.png

Telltale, Inc., doing business as Telltale Games, was incorporated in San Raphael, California in June 2004 by Kevin Bruner, Dan Connors, and Troy Molander.

All had previously worked on Sam & Max: Freelance Police at LucasArts. Telltale was founded as a direct result of that game's cancellation, which occurred on March 3, 2004.

While at LucasArts, the Freelance Police team pitched the idea for cases of the game to be released episodically through digital distribution. They were told that wasn't sustainable, so when members of that team formed their own company, it used the digital episodic business model.

Creation of the Telltale Tool

A number of the Freelance Police team joined Telltale upon its creation, and they began development on an in-house engine. This engine, the Telltale Tool, which used the open-source LUA scripting language, was created to allow for easy adaptation for support of additional platforms and graphics technologies. This enabled it to be used in all of the games developed by the studio.

Using the Telltale Tool, the Telltale team began working on a game to test their engine, as well as the animation and storytelling that would be necessary when they began working on their own adventure games. This game was a poker game, which the team soon realized could be sold on its own. They polished it to commercial standards and named it Telltale Texas Hold'em. It was released on February 11, 2005.

Telltale Store

The original release of Telltale Texas Hold'em for Windows was primarily to test their digital storefront, which was named Telltale Now at the time. After 2007, it was simply known as the Telltale Store.

Telltale was revived in 2019, after the 2018 assignment process, by LCG Entertainment. The Telltale Store was not part of that revival, however, non-third-party games purchased on the Telltale Store while it was active can still be re-downloaded from the Telltale website.

Loss of game rights prior to studio expansion

A third Bone game, consisting of Eyes of the Storm and reportedly material from other Bone books, was announced in 2006. It was canceled in 2009, due to the fact that Telltale concentrated on the Sam & Max series and had lost the license to make Bone games by that point.

An episodic King's Quest game was announced to be in development by Telltale in 2011. It was canceled in 2013 as Telltale had lost the license to make a King's Quest game. The intellectual property owners of King's Quest, Activision, published a King's Quest game developed by The Odd Gentlemen. This episodic King's Quest, created without Telltale's involvement, was released between 2015 and 2016.

Telltale Publishing

Telltale's first foray as a co-developer was in 2011, with Hector: Badge of Carnage, a game in which they shared development duties with the primary developer Straandlooper.

In 2015, the Telltale Publishing label was formed. The first game to be published under the label was the Jackbox Party Pack, followed by Mr. Robot 1.51exfiltrati0n, 7 Days To Die, and RGX Showdown.

Mainstream success and expansion

In 2012, the release of The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series‏‎ was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, winning over 80 Game of the Year awards and selling 8.5 million episodes totaling more than $40 million in sales. After this success, Telltale expanded from 110 employees to approximately 170.

In 2015, Lionsgate invested in Telltale to enable the two companies to co-develop original and existing intellectual properties for video games and television.

Majority studio closure and assignment

In 2018, all of Telltale's investors, including Lionsgate, pulled out of investment in the company. On September 21, 2018, Telltale announced a majority studio closure, laying off 250 employees with a staff of 25 staying on to fulfill contractual obligations to their board and to their partners. The game that was developed to fulfill the contractual obligations was Minecraft: Story Mode for Netflix. On November 27, 2018, after the game was released, most of the rest of the employees were laid off as well, and Telltale filed for assignment.

The Wolf Among Us 2, Game of Thrones: Season Two, Stranger Things, and Telltale's Super Show were canceled as a result of the majority studio closure. Beam Team Games also terminated their contract with Telltale Publishing when the release of Stranded Deep on consoles missed its release date and was pulled from digital storefronts.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season was completed by Skybound Games, which contracted some of the original team to finish the game from the Telltale offices.

Acquisition by LCG Entertainment

On August 28, 2019, LCG Entertainment announced that they had purchased Telltale and the rights to some of their games. The headquarters of LCG Entertainment was located in Malibu, CA, whereas the original Telltale offices were based in San Raphael, CA.

Telltale game rights owned by LCG Entertainment

With the acquisition of Telltale, LCG Entertainment acquired the rights to Batman: The Telltale Series, Batman: The Enemy Within, Hector: Badge of Carnage, Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent, Puzzle Agent 2, and The Wolf Among Us.

The only Telltale Publishing title to which they had acquired the rights was RGX Showdown.

On June 26, 2020, LCG Entertainment acquired the rights to Tales of Monkey Island.

On November 7, 2020, LCG Entertainment acquired the rights to Telltale Texas Hold-em, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, and Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures.

It subsequently lost the rights to RGX Showdown in May 2021, followed by Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People on June 1, 2023.

Telltale game rights owned by other companies

Not all of the Telltale titles are owned by LCG Entertainment. The rights to Telltale's The Walking Dead games were acquired by the creator of The Walking Dead, Skybound Entertainment. The games are now published by the company's video game subsidiary, Skybound Games. The original versions of the games are available alongside a remastered compilation, developed by Skybound Games, titled The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series.

The rights to Tales from the Borderlands were acquired by 2K, the company that holds the rights to the Borderlands franchise.

The rights to Telltale's Sam & Max games were acquired by Skunkape Games, a company formed by the franchise's creator, Steve Purcell, and other former Telltale staff members. Skunkape Games developed remastered versions of the three seasons of Sam & Max developed by Telltale. The original versions of the Sam & Max seasons are included with the remastered versions on Windows.

Game development partnerships

While Telltale had co-developed the final two episodes of the three-episode Hector: Badge of Carnage with Straandlooper in 2011, it wasn't until Telltale was reformed under LCG Entertainment in 2019 that co-development with outside studios became the norm.

On December 12, 2019, The Wolf Among Us 2 was put back into production. It was co-developed with AdHoc Studio, a studio formed by Telltale alumni.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series, a prequel to The Expanse television series, was released in five episodes from July 27, 2023 to September 21, 2023. Deck Nine co-developed the game with Telltale.

Games developed by Telltale (2004-2018)

Title System Release Added to Museum Notes
Back to the Future: The Game Windows
macOS
PS3
Wii
iOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS4
2010-2011
2011
2011
2011
2013
2015
2015
2015
macOS/Windows: October 26, 2011
Xbox 360: October 14, 2015
Five episodes in the Back to the Future series.
Telltale released a remastered version, 30th Anniversary Edition, in 2015.
Batman: The Telltale Series Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2016 macOS/Windows: August 15, 2017
Xbox 360: November 17, 2018
Five episodes in the Batman series.
Batman: The Enemy Within Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2017-2018 macOS/Windows: March 27, 2018 Five episodes in the Batman series.
Bone: Out from Boneville Windows
macOS
2005
2006
Windows: December 23, 2014 A single episode in the Bone series.
Bone: The Great Cow Race Windows 2007 Windows: December 23, 2014 A single episode in the Bone series.
CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder Windows
PS2
2006
2007
Windows: November 2, 2011
PS2: September 25, 2012
Five cases in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series.
The WEC Museum owns the Super Pack for Windows with the first four games.
CSI: Hard Evidence Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Wii
2007
2007
2007
2008
Xbox 360: May, 2, 2014
Windows: November 2, 2011
Five cases in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series.
The WEC Museum owns the Super Pack for Windows with the first four games.
CSI: Deadly Intent Windows
Xbox 360
Wii
2009 Windows: November 25, 2011 Five cases in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series.
The WEC Museum owns the Super Pack for Windows with the first four games.
CSI: Fatal Conspiracy Windows
PS3
Xbox 360
Wii
2010 Windows: May 4, 2015 Five cases in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series.
The WEC Museum owns the Super Pack for Windows with the first four games.
Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2014-2015 macOS/Windows: July 23, 2015 Six episodes in the Game of Thrones series.
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2018 macOS/Windows: November 7, 2017 Five episodes in the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
Hector: Badge of Carnage Windows
macOS
PS3
Wii
2010-2011 macOS/Windows: September 23, 2011 Five episode story co-developed with Straandlooper.
Jurassic Park: The Game Windows
macOS
PS3
Xbox 360
iOS
2011 macOS/Windows: November 15, 2011 Four episodes in the Jurassic Park series.
Law & Order Legacies Windows
macOS
iOS
2011-2012 macOS/Windows: March 29, 2012 Seven cases in the Law & Order series.
Minecraft: Story Mode Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Switch
Android
iOS
2015-2016 macOS/Windows: March 29, 2016 Five episodes in the Minecraft series.
Minecraft: Story Mode - Adventure Pass Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Switch
Android
iOS
2016 macOS/Windows: September 13, 2016 Three episode DLC for Minecraft: Story Mode.
Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Switch
Android
iOS
2017 macOS/Windows: December 19, 2017 Five episodes in the Minecraft series.
Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent Windows
macOS
PS3
iOS
2010 macOS/Windows: June 30, 2010 Single episode in the Puzzle Agent series.
Puzzle Agent 2 Windows
macOS
PS3
Xbox 360
iOS
2011 macOS/Windows: June 30, 2011 Single episode in the Puzzle Agent series.
Poker Night at the Inventory macOS
Windows
2010 macOS/Windows: May 18, 2010 A poker game crossover with Sam & Max, Penny Arcade, Homestar Runner, and Team Fortress 2.
Poker Night 2 Windows
macOS
PS3
Xbox 360
iOS
2013 macOS/Windows: May 27, 2013 A poker game crossover with Sam & Max, Evil Dead, Borderlands, The Venture Bros. and Portal.
Sam & Max Save the World Windows
Wii
Xbox 360
Switch
Xbox One
2006-2007
2008
2009
2020
2020
Windows: October 17, 2006
Remastered Switch: December 2, 2020
Remastered Windows: December 4, 2020
Six episodes in the Sam & Max series.
Skunkape Games released a remaster in 2020.
Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space Windows
Xbox 360
Wii
macOS
PS3
iOS
Switch
Xbox One
2007-2008
2009
2010
2010
2011
2012
2021
2021
macOS/Windows: April 6, 2008
Remastered Switch, Windows: May 6, 2022
Five episodes in the Sam & Max series.
Skunkape Games released a remaster in 2021.
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Windows
macOS
PS3
iOS
2010 macOS/Windows: May 18, 2010 Five episodes in the Sam & Max series.
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Windows
macOS
PS3
Wii
2008 Windows: December 15, 2008
macOS: January 13, 2011
Five episodes in the Homestar Runner series.
Tales of Monkey Island Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2009 macOS/Windows: October 20, 2015 Five episodes in the Monkey Island series.
Tales from the Borderlands Windows
macOS
PS3
iOS
2014-2015 macOS/Windows: November 25, 2014 Five episodes in the Borderlands series.
Telltale Texas Hold'em Windows 2005 Windows: February 11, 2005 A poker game that is the spiritual predecessor of Poker Night at the Inventory and Poker Night 2.
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series‏‎ Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2012 macOS/Windows: November 20, 2012
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
Five episodes in The Walking Dead series.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
The Walking Dead: 400 Days Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2013 macOS/Windows: July 2, 2013
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
DLC episode for The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
The Walking Dead: Season Two Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2013-2014 macOS/Windows: August 26, 2014
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
Five episodes in The Walking Dead series.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
The Walking Dead: Michonne Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2016 macOS/Windows: August 26, 2014
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
Three episode side story in The Walking Dead series.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2016-2017 macOS/Windows: May 30, 2017
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
Five episodes in The Walking Dead series.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season Windows
macOS
Xbox One
PS4
Android
iOS
2018-2019 Windows: May 30, 2019
Definitive Windows: December 2, 2020
Four episodes in The Walking Dead series.
The first two episodes were developed by Telltale.
The final two episodes were developed by Skybound Games.
Skybound Games released a Definitive Edition remaster in 2020.
Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures Windows
Xbox 360
iOS
2009 Windows: July 30, 2009 Four episodes in the Wallace & Gromit series.
The Wolf Among Us Windows
macOS
Xbox 360
Xbox One
PS3
PS4
Android
iOS
2013-2014 macOS/Windows: July 8, 2014 Five episodes in the Fables series.

Games developed by under the Telltale brand by LCG Entertainment (2019-present)

Title System Release Notes
Batman: The Telltale Series - Shadow Mode PS4, Windows, Xbox One 2019 Shadow Mode is an optional filter with increased shadows.
Batman: The Enemy Within - Shadow Mode PS4, Windows, Xbox One 2019 Shadow Mode is an optional filter with increased shadows.
The Expanse PS4, Windows, Xbox One 2023 Five episode story in The Expanse series. Co-developed with Deck Nine.
The Wolf Among Us 2 PS4, Windows, Xbox One 2024 Episodic story in the Fables series. Co-developed with AdHoc Studio.