Telltale

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, 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 by the LucasArts legal team that selling episodic games through digital distribution wasn't a sustainable business model, so when the team formed their own company, they utilized that 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.