South Korean game publisher Neowiz has entered into a publishing agreement with Shadowlight, an independent game development studio based in Shanghai, China. Under this agreement, Neowiz will handle global publishing for Shadowlight’s debut title, Kill the Shadow. The game is a narrative-driven adventure centered around a detective with time-rewinding abilities. Its setting takes place in a fictional post-war city divided by conflict, where players will investigate a range of unusual cases.

Neowiz to Publish Shadowlight's First Game

About Kill the Shadow

Kill the Shadow combines high-definition 3D environments with 2D pixel-art characters, offering a distinct visual style that blends modern and retro elements. The developers have emphasized story and reasoning as central components of the gameplay. A demo version of the title was released during Steam Next Fest in 2023, where it received favorable feedback from users, particularly for its narrative design, investigation mechanics, and visual presentation.

Neowiz’s Continued Focus on Story-Driven Titles

Neowiz has a 25-year track record of fun releases, like Cats & Soup, and is behind the highly anticipated Lies of P, a soulslike game that is inspired by Pinocchio and expected to be a top seller of 2023. In Q2 of 2023, Neowiz notched $51M USD in revenue. Last year, the company announced Intella X, its web3 gaming division, had entered into a partnership with the Avalanche blockchain.

Neowiz’s decision to publish Kill the Shadow follows a broader trend in its publishing strategy, which increasingly favors narrative-first experiences for PC and console platforms. Since the success of Lies of P in 2023, the company has expanded its portfolio through partnerships with other studios, including Zakazane and Wolfeye Studios. Co-CEO Kim Seung-chul stated that Shadowlight’s collaborative approach to development and focus on delivering a premium story-based game were key factors in moving forward with the deal.

Neowiz to Publish Shadowlight's First Game

Shadowlight’s Background and Development

Shadowlight was founded by five recent university graduates in Shanghai who had previously worked together on student game development projects. Their team has received multiple awards in national competitions and attracted the attention of industry stakeholders. In 2023, the studio received investment from Hypergryph, known for the mobile game Arknights, and has been participating in Hypergryph’s Coreblazer incubator program. According to Shadowlight CEO Black, the team values creativity, cultural inclusiveness, and a shared development philosophy, which they found aligned with Neowiz’s approach to publishing.

Strengthening Global Reach

The publishing deal with Shadowlight adds to Neowiz’s ongoing efforts to diversify its global publishing roster through collaboration with smaller, independent development teams. The company has been steadily building a reputation for supporting emerging studios with a strong narrative focus. With Kill the Shadow, Neowiz aims to continue expanding its presence in the international games market by offering content that blends storytelling with accessible gameplay.

As development progresses, both companies plan to share more details about the release of Kill the Shadow. The partnership illustrates a growing trend in the industry, where publishers and indie developers work closely to bring new, story-centered titles to a wider audience across multiple platforms.