Independent video game company Nitrate Games is expanding into digital publishing and niche IP development with Jay and Silent Bob’s Joint Venture. The adult cozy farm sim gives fans the chance to enter the world of filmmaker Kevin Smith’s cult-favorite characters and play as Jay and Silent Bob.
The game was announced during Smith’s annual Saturday night Hall H panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego. It marks one of Nitrate Games’ first moves into developing games around established cult properties.
A Different Kind of Cozy Farming Game
Jay and Silent Bob’s Joint Venture puts a raunchy spin on the traditional cozy farming game. Its crops and activities reflect Jay and Silent Bob’s specific cultural tastes rather than the usual pastoral setting.
Players will build, cultivate, and expand their operation as they progress through the game. They will also interact with familiar faces and experience an original story featuring Kevin Smith’s iconic characters.
The game is heading toward the beta testing phase of production. Nitrate Games expects to release it on Steam/PC in late Spring 2027.
“Since Jay and Silent Bob are the stars of this hilarious growing game, I cannot wait to play with myself! Many thanks to Nitrate Games for taking my little animals to this crossing and making them Stars Dew a Valley!”
An Experienced Team Behind Nitrate Games
Nitrate Games is the brainchild of Daniel Kendrick, Montana Sommese and Nick Madonna. Together, the three bring experience spanning film, television, publishing, gaming, and licensed entertainment.
Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Kendrick previously ran IDW Entertainment. During his tenure, he worked on films and games for properties including Locke & Key, Wynonna Earp, 30 Days of Night, Godzilla, Sonic the Hedgehog and 250 other titles.
Kendrick also served as co-executive producer of last year’s breakthrough hit Batman Azteca for Warner Bros. Animation. His background combines licensed entertainment development with experience adapting established properties across different media.
Nitrate Co-Founder Montana Sommese has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of Hollywood and gaming. He specializes in adapting premier IP for new generations of players and has delivered dozens of experiences for companies including Warner Bros. and Fox.
Nick Madonna serves as Nitrate’s Head of Development and brings more than 20 years of game industry experience. He has worked on titles for Saber Interactive, Square Enix and Vivendi Universal.
Madonna also runs PHL Collective, a licensed entertainment developer behind games based on major properties. Its portfolio includes titles involving Star Wars, Justice League and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Building Games Around Cult Favorites
Nitrate’s creative triumvirate launched the company around a philosophy that applies comic book sensibilities and strategies to indie video games. The approach focuses on niche licenses tied to popular properties and cult classics.
That strategy includes Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob as well as the 1978 surprise hit Attack of Killer Tomatoes. The publisher has also been actively acquiring licensed and original IP, with additional titles planned for announcement in the near future.
“Our core mission is to make games that we wish existed when we were kids,” says Kendrick. “We’re an independent game publisher with an eye toward creating unexpected takes on unique, beloved properties.”
Veteran Creators Join ‘Joint Venture’
Chase Marotz serves as creative director on Jay & Silent Bob’s Joint Venture. His previous work includes popular properties such as Star Trek and Dungeons & Dragons for IDW Publishing.
Marotz also served as Lead Narrative Director for Gameloft’s New York studio. During his career, he has shipped more than 40 titles, including collaborations with Marvel, Disney and NBCUniversal.
Celebrated live-action and animation writer Ernie Altbacker is writing the game. His credits include Batman: Hush and Justice League Dark.
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes have also been involved with the project from the beginning. Both have helped shepherd the game’s creative vision as Nitrate develops its take on the characters.
Creating a Pop Culture Company for Interactive Fans
For Nitrate Games, Jay and Silent Bob’s Joint Venture represents part of a broader strategy built around turning entertainment properties into interactive experiences. The company wants audiences to do more than watch familiar characters and worlds from a distance.
“We set out to build Nitrate Games as the pop culture company of the future,” Kendrick says. “Audiences want to step inside the worlds they love; to emotionally engage with them, change them, break the fourth wall. That’s why Montana, Nick and I built Nitrate Games: to be the indie publisher where beloved and new brands become something you don’t just watch, but live. Nitrate Games exists for fans hungry for stories and entertainment that transcend formats and platforms.”
