Independent Game Development
Ongoing coverage on Independent Game Development.
Latest coverage
PS4, PS5 Hardware Architect Says He’s “Nearing the End” Of His Career, Announces Nova Foundation
PlayStation 4 and 5 lead architect Mark Cerny, nearing the end of his career, has partnered with Geoff Keighley to launch the Nova Foundation. This initiative aims to foster independent game development by offering six-figure grants and mentorship to aspiring designers, with applications opening in December. Cerny and Keighley have personally donated to establish the foundation, emphasizing its philanthropic nature.
Studio Ricochet established by former Gearbox Studio Quebec leadership
Studio Ricochet, a new independent game development studio, has been established in Quebec by former leadership from Gearbox Studio Quebec. The company announced its formation and headquarters location.
Rebellion has its fingers in all the pies
UK-based company Rebellion has built a significant transmedia empire, extending beyond its well-known games like Sniper Elite and Atomfall into books, comics, board games, movies, and even a costume company. The company's strategy focuses on authenticity and allowing IPs to find success before expanding into other media, as seen with Atomfall becoming a TV series after its commercial success. Rebellion's commitment to independence and its in-house engine, Asura, are key to its long-term sustainability.
EVE Online studio CCP Games goes independent as Fenris Creations
CCP Games, the developer of EVE Online, has been sold by Pearl Abyss to its management team for $120 million and rebranded as Fenris Creations. The studio will operate independently, with CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson assuring no layoffs. Fenris Creations has also partnered with Google DeepMind for AI research using EVE Online as a testbed.
Bye Sweet Carole: A Historic Milestone for Italian Excellence
The Italian video game 'Bye Sweet Carole' has won the Jury Prize in the Games – Best Independent Creator category at the 30th Webby Awards. This marks a historic achievement as the first Italian game to be nominated for and win a Webby Award. The game also previously received multiple nominations at the Annie Awards, Gamescom Awards, and NAVGTR Awards, and has sold over 100,000 copies.
The Development History of The Last Caretaker | Invision Game Community
The development history of The Last Caretaker highlights iterative production and external collaboration, common practices for independent and mid-scale studios. The survival-focused game prioritized system interaction and player-driven activity over scripted sequences and extensive narrative exposition. Development involved a small core team and external support, including RetroStyle Games, to maintain a focused scope and consistent production structure.
Ukrainian Games Industry Hosts Inaugural Ukrainian Games Festival in San Francisco
The first Ukrainian Games Festival was held in San Francisco, attracting over 800 attendees to play 10 independent Ukrainian-developed titles and participate in panel discussions. The event, which ran concurrently with the Game Developers Conference, raised $9,600 for the Leleka Foundation to provide medical supplies to Ukraine. Organizers aim to showcase the Ukrainian games industry as a significant part of the creative economy.
Why Hiro is bullish on UK and EU game dev funding after helping The Chinese Room and Bulkhead go independent
Hiro Capital, through its new advisory division, is bullish on the UK and EU game development funding landscape, seeing a rise in independent studios formed by experienced teams. The firm has already assisted The Chinese Room and Bulkhead Interactive in regaining independence from larger corporations. Factors like regulatory limitations on US investment for Asian companies and the availability of talent exiting larger firms contribute to Europe's attractiveness for game dev investment.
