Indie Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Indie Publishing.
Latest coverage
Inner Pocket is a new indie publisher looking to champion 'curiosity games'
Veterans from Critical Reflex, Gaijin Entertainment, and Nozomu Games have launched Inner Pocket, a new indie publishing label focused on "curiosity games." The company will offer support services and last-mile investment, typically under $75,000, to developers. Inner Pocket aims to foster a community through Steam curation and engagement on platforms like YouTube and Discord, with Nozomu Games' "Burn With Me" being one of its debut titles.
Devolver wants to delist because indie publishing is not 'compatible' with public trading
Devolver Digital intends to delist from the London Stock Exchange's AIM market to become a private company, citing incompatibility between public trading demands and the unpredictable nature of indie game publishing. The publisher believes this move will better serve shareholders and allow for more effective capital allocation, despite recent revenue growth.
Evening Interviews
The article discusses how smaller, lesser-known publishers like Pocketpair are contributing to a revolution in indie publishing. It suggests that more hit games will emerge from these unexpected sources, changing the landscape of the video game industry.
"We're going to see more hit games coming from publishers you've never heard of" – Pocketpair and the indie publishing revolution
John Buckley, head of publishing at Palworld creator Pocketpair, argues that traditional publishers are out of touch with the current industry, offering outdated deals. Pocketpair Publishing, established after Palworld's success, aims to offer more favorable terms to developers, focusing on marketing and support without ownership of intellectual property. Despite ongoing legal battles with Nintendo over alleged similarities to Pokémon, Pocketpair remains committed to its survival crafting genre and expanding the Palworld IP with spin-offs.
Blue Ocean Games Partners with Polden Publishing to Drive a New Generation of Data-Driven Indie Game Publishing
Blue Ocean Games, backed by KRAFTON, Inc., has partnered with Polden Publishing to invest in and validate indie game concepts using a data-driven approach. This collaboration focuses on testing audience demand and wishlist momentum for titles before significant production investment, aiming to create more efficient funding models for developers. The partnership will also allow indie developers worldwide to submit concepts for evaluation.
Blue Ocean Games Partners with Polden Publishing to Drive a New Generation of Data-Driven Indie Game Publishing
Blue Ocean Games, backed by KRAFTON, Inc., has partnered with Polden Publishing to co-invest in indie game titles using a data-driven approach. This collaboration focuses on validating audience demand and wishlist momentum through rapid market testing before significant production investment. The partnership aims to provide a clearer path for developers to build successful games by prioritizing early audience feedback and community-driven strategies.
UK publisher EdCorp breaks cover after signing Garbage Country
Former Coatsink founders have launched EdCorp, a new UK-based developer and indie publisher focused on fair terms for global developers. The company will fund, market, and develop original and licensed IP across PC and console, offering up to 75 percent revenue share. Their first published project will be the exploration sim Garbage Country.
Top Hat Studios Presents Spring Showcase 2026 Announced for April 21
Top Hat Studios has announced their "Spring Showcase 2026" event, scheduled for April 21, 2026, on YouTube and Twitch. The showcase will feature updates on their catalog, including new trailers, publishing announcements, and demo releases for titles like MOTORSLICE, Well Dweller, and BECROWNED. MOTORSLICE, a parkour adventure, is set to release in May 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam.
Tied Company Launches Stratos: The Gaming Sphere: A 90% Revenue-Share Indie Publisher
Tied Company S.r.l. has launched Stratos: The Gaming Sphere, a new indie publishing model offering developers up to 90% revenue share and full IP ownership. The company is seeking funding through an equity crowdfunding campaign on MyRestartup to support 15 titles by 2028, starting with 'Two Sides of Hell' in June. CEO Gabriele Bonetto aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for indie developers.
After selling 100,000 Steam copies in a week, publisher behind 8-year-old horror game says continued investment is key: "In 30 years, we've had 30 Resident Evil games"
The eight-year-old horror game Hello Neighbor has achieved significant success, selling over 100,000 copies on Steam in a single week. Publisher tinyBuild attributes this resurgence to a decade-long strategy of continued investment in the stealth-horror series, highlighting the importance of long-term support for indie titles.
Reforged Studios Welcomes Headup to the Party
Reforged Studios has fully acquired the independent games publisher Headup, known for titles like Bridge Constructor and Pumpkin Jack. This strategic move aims to strengthen Reforged's developer-first publishing platform by combining Headup's curatorial expertise with Reforged's international infrastructure. Headup will continue its operations, with founder Dieter Schoeller also taking on the role of Chief Publishing Officer at Reforged Studios.
Stardock announce an expansion into indie game publishing
Stardock Entertainment has announced an expansion into indie game publishing, aiming to support developers struggling with marketing and community management. CEO Brad Wardell stated the company will leverage its experience to help new titles succeed amidst a crowded market. Stardock plans to sign only three games per year to ensure adequate attention for each project.
Google resolves dispute with Epic Games, reduces app store fees to 20%
Google has resolved a dispute with Epic Games by reducing its app store fees to 20%. Separately, Good Games Group has launched a new indie publishing label called Balor Games, acquiring the back catalogs of Humble Games and Firestoke Games to support this initiative.
Good Games Group launches new indie publishing label Balor Games
Good Games Group has launched a new indie publishing label named Balor Games. The article also touches on the nature of industry leaks, suggesting they are often planned by companies to generate excitement.
Humble Games' former bosses buy the studio's back catalog
Good Games Group, led by former Humble Games leaders Alan Patmore and Mark Nash, has acquired the back catalog of over 50 titles from Humble Games, rebranding as Balor Games. This acquisition includes popular indie titles like Slay the Spire and Coral Island, and also encompasses the catalog of Firestoke Games. Balor Games aims to be a developer-friendly publisher focused on "triple-I" gaming.
Ex-Humble Games Heads Buy Back Label and Rename It to Balor Games
Former Humble Games heads Alan Patmore and Mark Nash have acquired the indie publishing label and rebranded it to Balor Games. The new entity, formerly Good Games Group, has secured the back catalog of Humble Games, including titles like A Hat in Time and Slay the Spire, and aims to become a leading "triple-I" publisher.
Jackbox Party Pack Developer Moves Into Publishing With a Game About a 'Long, Yucky Arm' - IGN
Jackbox Games, known for its party titles, is expanding into indie game publishing with its first title, 'My Arms Are Longer Now' from Toot Games. The company aims to support developers with marketing, production, and release management, focusing on unique, fun, and community-driven games. 'My Arms Are Longer Now' is a silly 2D stealth game planned for release later this year.
