Bigmode
Bigmode is a privately held indie game publisher founded in 2022 by Videogamedunkey (Jason) and Leah, serving independent game developers with funding, dev support, PR, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising under developer-friendly revenue-split contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bigmode does
Bigmode is an indie video game publisher founded in 2022 by YouTuber Videogamedunkey (Jason) and his wife Leah, operating from Madison, Wisconsin. The company serves independent game developers by providing publishing services including funding, development support, PR and community management, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising. Bigmode positions itself as a developer-friendly alternative to traditional publishers, offering revenue-share contracts that split proceeds immediately rather than relying on recoup structures that have historically forced profitable indie studios to close. The company selects titles based on creative merit, originality, passion, and clear developer vision, and explicitly rejects games using NFTs, crypto, or blockchain technology.
The company's product portfolio consists of two published games: Animal Well, a pixelated puzzle/horror/platformer developed by Billy Basso using a custom pixel-art engine built for modern hardware, released May 9, 2024; and Star of Providence, a shoot-em-up bullet hell roguelike developed by Team D-13, released February 20, 2025. Both titles are distributed digitally on Steam and the Nintendo Switch eShop. Bigmode has also extended into physical merchandise through an official shop selling collectible Modos statuettes (priced at $39.99-$49.99), enamel pins ($11.19-$13.99), and branded pens ($11.99-$14.99). No proprietary technology stack is disclosed beyond the developer-built engine behind Animal Well.
Bigmode operates as a privately held, founder-led business with no disclosed institutional funding, external investors, or parent company. Its go-to-market is community-led, leveraging the founder's YouTube audience and organic social channels (notably @BIGMODEgames on Twitter) to generate awareness for new releases and recruit developer applicants through bigmode.com. Revenue is generated through two streams: a transaction-fee revenue share on game sales across Steam and Nintendo Switch, and direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through the company's own e-commerce storefront.
Bigmode firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bigmode
- Legal name
- Bigmode
- Website
- https://bigmode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Bigmode is a privately held indie game publisher founded in 2022 by Videogamedunkey (Jason) and Leah, serving independent game developers with funding, dev support, PR, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising under developer-friendly revenue-split contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bigmode industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Publishing
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Game Distribution Platforms & Storefronts (PC/Mobile/Console) (MPAFABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Publisher-Owned Direct-to-Consumer Stores (MPAFACAK), Virtual Goods & Digital Item Commerce (skins, cosmetics, DLC) (MPAFAJAF)
Keywords
Bigmode business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Game Publishing: Bigmode publishes indie video games, taking a share of revenue from game sales on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch platforms.
- Merchandise Sales: The company operates an official merchandise shop selling collectible statuettes (Modos), enamel pins, and pens featuring Bigmode icons and published game characters. Products are sold at various price points with occasional discounts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collectible statuettes (Modos) featuring Bigmode icons and published game characters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories featuring Bigmode branding and game art |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Bigmode product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bigmode publishes indie video games on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch, working with independent developers from pitch through release by providing funding, development support, PR and community management, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising services. The company also operates a direct-to-consumer merchandise shop selling collectible statuettes, enamel pins, and pens featuring its mascot Biggy and characters from published games. Revenue is generated through a share of game sales and direct merchandise sales.
Product overview
Bigmode is an indie game publisher founded in 2022 by YouTuber videogamedunkey (Jason) and his wife Leah. The company publishes indie video games with a focus on quality, originality, and fun, currently offering two published games: Animal Well (a puzzle/horror/platformer) and Star of Providence (a shoot-em-up bullet hell roguelike). Beyond game publishing, Bigmode operates a merchandise shop selling collectible statuettes (Modos) of their mascot Biggy and characters from their published games, as well as enamel pins and pens. The publishing arm offers comprehensive services including funding, development support, PR/community management, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising to indie developers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Animal Well A pixelated puzzle/horror/platformer game featuring a dense atmospheric world with multiple layers of secrets, dynamic items with multiple uses, and a custom pixel art engine. Players hatch from a flower and explore a haunting world encountering various creatures. Developed by Billy Basso and published by Bigmode; available on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.
- Star of Providence A shoot-em-up/bullet hell/roguelike game where players descend into a facility seeking power eternal. Features buttery smooth controls, over 120 unique enemies, 6 playable ships with different gameplay styles, and intense boss fights. Developed by Team D-13 and published by Bigmode; available on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch.
- Indie Game Publishing Services Indie game publishing services including funding, development support, PR and community management, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising. The company offers developer-friendly contracts with immediate revenue splits and can engage at any stage from pitch to near-completion. Aimed at independent game developers creating original, passionate games.
- Biggy Modo Collectible clay-model styled statuette featuring Biggy the Bigmode frog in his signature pose with arm raised high. Vinyl figure with PVC base is 3.5 inches high; priced at $39.99 on sale (normally $49.99).
- Animal Well Modo Exclusive collectible clay-model styled statuette featuring the familiar blob from Animal Well peering up at a white rabbit, surrounded by grass tufts from the game. Vinyl figure with PVC base; priced at $39.99 on sale (normally $49.99).
- Star of Providence Modo Collectible clay-model styled statuette of D-13 from Star of Providence, representing the iconic pause screen character. Vinyl figure with PVC base is 3.5 inches high; priced at $39.99 on sale (normally $49.99).
- Star of Providence Pen Fully customized ballpoint pen featuring Star of Providence's iconic splash art and logo with blue ink. Priced at $11.99 on sale (normally $14.99).
- Biggy Enamel Pins High quality 1.5 inch soft enamel pin featuring Biggy the Bigmode frog, Bigmode's mascot. Priced at $11.19 on sale (normally $13.99).
Companies that use Bigmode
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bigmode technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bigmode partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bigmode competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Devolver Digital: Publicly traded indie game publisher known for backing creative, unconventional indie titles on PC and consoles. Closest direct competitor to Bigmode in scope (multi-game indie catalog) and brand positioning, though at materially larger scale.
- Annapurna Interactive: High-profile indie publisher with a curated catalog of artistic and original titles on PC and consoles. Directly comparable to Bigmode's emphasis on creative merit and developer-friendly positioning.
- Raw Fury: Indie publisher focused on distinctive, artistically driven games across PC and consoles. Similar mid-sized indie catalog and creative-first ethos to Bigmode.
- Finji: Indie publisher and developer of original titles like Tunic and Night in the Woods. Comparable to Bigmode as a small-scale indie publisher prioritizing developer relationships and creative quality.
- Fellow Traveller: Narrative and artistic indie game publisher releasing titles across PC and consoles. Matches Bigmode's boutique, quality-over-quantity approach to indie publishing.
- tinyBuild: Publicly traded indie publisher with a multi-title catalog spanning PC and consoles. Comparable to Bigmode in core function, though operating at much larger scale and with broader genre coverage.
- Hooded Horse: Indie publisher focused on strategy and simulation games with a growing multi-title catalog. Comparable indie publishing business model with PC and console distribution, though oriented toward different genres.
- No More Robots: Boutique indie publisher releasing select titles like Descenders and Hypnospace Outlaw. Comparable to Bigmode in small-team, selective signing model on PC and consoles.
- Akupara Games: Indie publisher offering publishing, porting, and marketing services to indie developers across PC and consoles. Overlaps with Bigmode's developer-services orientation, particularly around porting and localization.
Emerging players
- Yogscast Games: Game publishing arm of the Yogscast YouTube network, founded by creators with built-in audiences. Highly comparable to Bigmode's creator-led indie publishing model where founder audience serves as the primary marketing channel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Bigmode social profiles
Digital presenceBigmode financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bigmode leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bigmode funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bigmode M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bigmode
What does Bigmode do?
Bigmode publishes indie video games on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch, working with independent developers from pitch through release by providing funding, development support, PR and community management, QA, porting, localization, and merchandising services. The company also operates a direct-to-consumer merchandise shop selling collectible statuettes, enamel pins, and pens featuring its mascot Biggy and characters from published games. Revenue is generated through a share of game sales and direct merchandise sales.
Is Bigmode a public or private company?
Bigmode is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bigmode founded?
Bigmode was founded in 2022.
How does Bigmode make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Publishing is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Bigmode's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Devolver Digital, Annapurna Interactive, Raw Fury, Finji, Fellow Traveller, tinyBuild, Hooded Horse, No More Robots and Akupara Games. Yogscast Games is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bigmode have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bigmode.
What industry is Bigmode in?
Bigmode's product category is Video Game Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFABAB, Digital Game Distribution Platforms & Storefronts (PC/Mobile/Console), with a secondary code of MPAFACAK, Publisher-Owned Direct-to-Consumer Stores. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 2741.