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New Indie Fishing Game Is More Popular Than Modern Warfare 4 Beta On Steam
The indie fishing game "How to Fish" has become a surprise hit on Steam, surpassing the concurrent player count of the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4" beta. Developed by Dazed Games and supported by Landfall, "How to Fish" has sold over 1 million copies and features a unique, physics-based gameplay loop. In contrast, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4" is set for an October 23 release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2.
PEAK reaches its summit, and its final major update looks like a belter – here’s what’s included
Aggro Crab and Landfall have released the final major content update for their climbing game PEAK, titled 'The Final Ascent'. This update introduces new biome variants, items, mechanics, and secrets, while also focusing on the development of console versions which will feature cross-platform multiplayer. The developers have stated that while major content updates are ceasing, bug fixes and maintenance will continue, and they are not aiming for PEAK to become a 'forever game'.
As Peak gets its final big update, developers Landfall and Aggro Crab explain why it isn't a "forever game"
Developers Landfall and Aggro Crab have released the final major update, 'The Final Ascent,' for their game Peak. This update introduces new biomes, items, and challenges, but the developers have stated Peak is not intended to be a 'forever game' and they wish to return to their separate projects. They emphasize a desire to deliver a finished experience rather than a constantly updated live-service title.
Peak gets its final major update and a "new secret for you to discover" next week
Aggro Crab announced that its co-op climbing game, Peak, will receive its final major update on August 11th. This update will introduce new biomes, cycle out existing ones, and add a secret for players to discover. The game is available on PC via Steam and has been a success for publisher Landfall, leading to the creation of clones that the developers prefer players pirate over playing microtransaction-riddled versions.
Co-op climber Peak finally reaches the summit, with its last major update bringing two foreboding new biomes next week
The co-op climbing game Peak will receive its final major update, titled 'Final Ascent,' on August 11th. This update introduces two new biomes, Gloom and The Citadel, which will replace the Caldera and Kiln maps. The update aims to conclude the game's narrative by having players rescue a scout master with a mysterious link to the island.
"Product visibility needs a more cohesive and structural approach" – How VaultN aims to unify the digital distribution ecosystem
VaultN, a digital distribution platform, aims to unify the gaming ecosystem by centralizing transactions for publishers, distributors, and retailers. Co-founder Julian Migura explains the platform's goal to streamline processes, improve product visibility, and enable better cooperation between various industry players, including a desire to integrate with Steam. VaultN currently partners with platforms like Epic Games Store and GOG, and takes a small percentage of publisher royalties.
Portside Game Assembly Sets Sail Again on June 26: Conference Program for Indie Game Studios Announced
The Portside Game Assembly, an expert conference for indie game studios, will hold its second edition on June 25-26 in Hamburg. The event will feature talks from developers like Rebecca Lautner and Mark Cooke on topics such as game development, sequels, and community engagement. The B2B conference aims to foster exchange among studio heads and founders through short talks and roundtables, with participation from over 60 studios worldwide.
Indie games have built a thriving economy in territory traditional publishers abandoned or ignored | Opinion
The indie game market has quietly become a significant economic force, occupying niches abandoned by traditional publishers and fostering new genres. Data from the Godot engine shows substantial growth in game releases and developer adoption, partly fueled by Unity's controversial runtime fee policy. This expansion has created a thriving ecosystem with its own infrastructure and economy, demonstrating that the barrier to reaching a mass audience for indie developers is lower than ever.
Meet the indie studios funding other indie studios
Several successful indie game developers, including Innersloth, Landfall, and Kinetic Games, have launched initiatives like Outersloth, Evil Landfall, and a new publishing business to financially support other independent studios. These funds aim to provide crucial investment, ranging from $50,000 to $2 million, to help indie developers bring their projects to fruition, especially during a period of low overall investment in the video game industry. The transparency of these funding models, including contract terms and recoup percentages, has been positively received by the development community.
Landfall and Aggro Crab team up for Make-a-Wish game bundle
Landfall and Aggro Crab have partnered with Digiphile to release a game bundle to raise funds for Make-A-Wish in honor of World Wish Day. The $12 bundle includes eight games, with an optional $5 charity tier for soundtracks and exclusive artwork. The initiative has already raised over $2,300 for the charity and will be available until May 12.
Landfall's Rebecca Lautner announced as speaker at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
Rebecca Lautner, Chief Business Officer at Landfall, has been announced as a speaker for the Game Republic New Horizons 2026 conference. She will participate in a fireside chat discussing Landfall's operations and its new publishing arm, Evil Landfall. Lautner joins keynote speaker Ken Kutaragi, known as the 'Father of the PlayStation'.
Designer of Terra Nil reveals Combolands, a deckbuilder where cards are buildings and the map is your deck
Crux Games, a studio co-founded by Terra Nil designer Sam Alfred, has revealed Combolands, a deckbuilder where cards represent buildings and the map serves as the deck. The game, which builds upon a prototype called Tiny Towns, will feature roguelike citybuilder mechanics, unlockable content, and multiple guilds. A demo is currently available, with support for PC via Proton/Wine.
Terra Nil creator announces Deckbuilder x Citybuilder Combolands, based on viral itch hit!
Crux Games, a two-person studio founded by Terra Nil designer Sam Alfred and Skye Scott, has announced Combolands, a deckbuilder where cards represent buildings and the map is the deck. Based on the viral itch.io hit Tiny Towns, the game features roguelike citybuilding mechanics with unlockable content and procedurally generated levels. A Steam demo is now available.
Gunzilla called out, Netflix's surprise app store surge, and indie publishers rise up - Patch Notes #47
Gunzilla Games faces accusations from former employees regarding unpaid wages, while Netflix's new 'Playground' app for children and its virtual game controller app have seen significant success. Additionally, indie developers Black Tabby Games and Landfall have launched new publishing labels, signaling a growing trend in the independent sector.
Off The Grid developer Gunzilla accused of failing to pay employees
Gunzilla Games, the developer of the upcoming battle royale shooter Off The Grid, is facing accusations of failing to pay its employees for months. Former employees and the studio's ex-head of talent acquisition have come forward, claiming significant salary delays and that CEO Vlad Korolev and CFO Taras Basarab have ignored their requests for payment. The studio has offices in London, Frankfurt, and Kyiv.
The devs behind Peak and Content Warning made a publisher to support their games and other indie developers: 'We…
Developer Landfall has launched a new publishing arm called Evil Landfall to support its own games and other indie developers. Initially established three years ago, Evil Landfall will offer project-based investments, money, and advice to indie studios, though it may also publish games in the future. This move follows a trend of successful indie studios creating their own publishing labels to navigate the current market.
Peak co-dev turned indie investor says "too many developers develop their game secretly for several years," and it's putting its friendslop fortune into helping devs find a better way
Evil Landfall CEO Kirsten-Lee Naidoo advocates for shorter game development cycles, criticizing the trend of developers working in secret for years. The company, an investment arm of Peak co-dev Landfall, aims to fund and advise studios making smaller, focused games with clear fun factors, citing their own success with the 'friendslop' genre and the risks associated with long development times.
Peak co-developer Landfall might finance your next indie game
Landfall, the developer behind games like Content Warning and Peak, has launched a new publishing offshoot called Evil Landfall to finance external indie projects. Led by CEO Kirsten-Lee Naidoo, the label aims to provide project-based investment and advice, potentially investing up to $1 million in a few games per year. Evil Landfall has already quietly invested in titles such as REPO, How To Fish, and Voidigo.
Evil Landfall is the latest publishing label from an indie developer
Landfall has launched a new publishing label called Evil Landfall, headed by former head of publishing Kirsten-Lee Naidoo. This new entity will provide funding and publishing services for external indie developers, in addition to Landfall's own titles. Evil Landfall aims to support games with shorter development cycles and a focus on cooperative, physics-based gameplay, drawing inspiration from Landfall's successful titles like Peak and Content Warning.
After Peak's Success, Its Devs Face Burnout and Big Decisions
This article examines the challenges faced by indie developers after achieving unexpected success, using examples like Aggro Crab's Peak and Kinetic Games' Phasmophobia. It highlights how sudden popularity can lead to burnout and pressure to meet player expectations for ongoing content, often diverging from the developers' original vision and resources.
