
Town of Salem 2 is owned by BlankMediaGames LLC, an indie game studio founded in 2014 by Josh Brittain and Blake Burns in Austin, Texas. BlankMediaGames developed the game and originally self-published it. In July 2024, the studio's founders sold the game assets to publisher Digital Bandidos, which now publishes and controls the title. The game is free-to-play on Steam.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Salem 2 | BlankMediaGames | Wholly owned |
BlankMediaGames announced Town of Salem 2 on April 23, 2023, as a sequel to the original Town of Salem, which had been operating since December 2014. The original game was a browser-based social deduction game inspired by the party game Mafia, where players in a town must identify and eliminate hidden evil factions. The original reached 800,000 active monthly users by 2016 and over 20 million registered players over its lifetime.
Town of Salem 2 entered Steam Early Access on May 26, 2023. The game launched with over 50 unique roles, supporting 7 to 15 players per match. The sequel introduced updated visuals, a redesigned user interface, and new game mechanics while retaining the core social deduction loop of the original. The full early access launch followed on August 25, 2023.
The game's early performance was strong relative to its genre. Town of Salem 2 reached the top three social deduction games on Steam by concurrent player count during its launch period. The all-time peak concurrent player count was 3,022, recorded during the early access launch window in June 2023. The game accumulated approximately 8,800 reviews on Steam with a 70% positive rating.
Player counts declined steadily after the initial launch window. Average monthly concurrent players dropped from approximately 991 in June 2023 to under 400 by early 2024. By August 2026, the game had approximately 195 concurrent players with a 24-hour peak of 373. The decline followed the pattern common to social deduction games that experience launch-driven spikes without sustained content updates.
In August 2024, Digital Bandidos announced a partnership with BlankMediaGames to bring Town of Salem 2 to mobile platforms. This followed the July 2024 asset acquisition. The mobile version aims to expand the game's player base beyond the PC-only Steam audience, similar to how the original Town of Salem expanded from browser to mobile in 2018.
The game transitioned to a free-to-play model during its early access period. The original Town of Salem was also free-to-play on browser, with a paid version on Steam. Town of Salem 2 adopted free-to-play on Steam from the start of its full early access launch, monetizing through cosmetic bundles, themes, and pets.
As of August 2026, Town of Salem 2 remains in early access on Steam. The game has received periodic updates including new roles, balance changes, and bug fixes. The Steam review rating sits at 69% positive across approximately 10,900 reviews, with recent reviews rated as Mixed at 60% positive.
What is BlankMediaGames?
BlankMediaGames LLC is an American game development studio founded in February 2014 by Josh Brittain and Blake Burns in Austin, Texas. The company is best known for the Town of Salem social deduction game franchise, which accumulated over 20 million registered players. In July 2024, the founders sold the game assets to publisher Digital Bandidos. The studio operated for 10 years without external funding.
Is BlankMediaGames publicly traded?
No, BlankMediaGames is not publicly traded. The company was privately held and owned entirely by its two co-founders, Josh Brittain and Blake Burns, throughout its operating history. The company never raised venture capital or took outside investment. Following the July 2024 asset sale to Digital Bandidos, the game assets are controlled by a privately held publisher.
Who founded BlankMediaGames?
BlankMediaGames was founded in February 2014 by Josh Brittain and Blake Burns in Austin, Texas. Burns served as the design lead, handling game design, UI and UX, and creative direction. After the 2024 asset sale, Burns joined Ludeon Studios as Design Director, the studio behind RimWorld. The two founders started with a team of four: two programmers and two artists.
Where is BlankMediaGames based?
BlankMediaGames was based in Austin, Texas, USA. The company's office was located at 9900 Spectrum Drive in Austin, with a registered headquarters in nearby Round Rock, Texas. The development team of approximately 10 people at the time of the 2024 asset sale worked from the Austin area. Following the asset sale, publishing operations transferred to Digital Bandidos.
How many brands does BlankMediaGames own?
BlankMediaGames developed five game titles during its 10-year operating history. The two most significant are Town of Salem (2014) and Town of Salem 2 (2023). Following the July 2024 asset sale, both titles are now controlled by Digital Bandidos. The other three titles were smaller and less commercially significant.
Who owns BlankMediaGames?
BlankMediaGames was owned entirely by its two co-founders, Josh Brittain and Blake Burns, from 2014 until the July 2024 asset sale. There was no parent company, no external investors, and no publisher relationship for most of the company's history. In July 2024, the founders sold the game assets to Digital Bandidos, a privately held game publisher. The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
What happened to BlankMediaGames in 2024?
In July 2024, co-founders Josh Brittain and Blake Burns sold the BlankMediaGames game assets, including Town of Salem and Town of Salem 2, to publisher Digital Bandidos. The sale ended the studio's 10-year run as an independent developer. Blake Burns subsequently joined Ludeon Studios as Design Director. In August 2024, Digital Bandidos announced a partnership to bring Town of Salem 2 to mobile platforms.
Asset Sale and Publisher Transition (July 2024): The sale of BlankMediaGames' game assets to Digital Bandidos in July 2024 created uncertainty among the game's player base. The transition involved a change in publisher and operational control, with co-founders Josh Brittain and Blake Burns departing the studio. Some players expressed concern about the future of Town of Salem 2 under new ownership, particularly given the declining player counts and Mixed review rating at the time. Digital Bandidos has continued updating the game, but the transition period saw limited communication about long-term development plans.
Review Rating Decline (2023 to 2026): Town of Salem 2's Steam review rating has declined from its launch period. The overall rating sits at 69% positive (Mixed), with recent reviews at 60% positive. Player complaints have cited bugs, balance issues with certain roles, and slow update cadence. The declining rating has affected the game's visibility on Steam's recommendation algorithms, contributing to reduced new player acquisition. Neither BlankMediaGames nor Digital Bandidos has publicly addressed the review trend in detail.
Cheating and Account Security (Ongoing): Like many online social deduction games, Town of Salem 2 has experienced issues with cheating and disruptive behavior in public lobbies. The original Town of Salem faced similar problems throughout its lifetime. The sequel implemented account systems and moderation tools, but community reports indicate that cheating remains a periodic issue. The small development team has limited capacity for anti-cheat enforcement.
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| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Blood Interactive | USA | 2020 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
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| Gaggle Studios | Canada | 2021 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Other Ocean Interactive | Canada | 2019 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Kinetic Games | United Kingdom | 2020 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
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