Cyprus-based Owlcat Games, known for its ambitious sci-fi RPG set in the universe of The Expanse, is taking a significant step to support the game development community. In collaboration with several esteemed game studios and publishers, they have launched the GameDev Learning Drop, a comprehensive and free directory of resources tailored for game developers.
Collaborative Efforts Yield Rich Resources
This initiative is the result of a partnership that includes notable names such as Midwest Games, Fireshine Games, Gaijin Entertainment—creators of War Thunder—and 11 Bit Studios, renowned for titles like Frostpunk and The Alters. Together, they have curated an impressive collection of over 350 learning resources, which encompass a wide range of topics including game design, programming, narrative design, and project management.
The concept of the GameDev Learning Drop emerged from an internal practice at Owlcat, where team leads would share valuable resources with junior team members throughout the year. As Tsvetkov, a representative from Owlcat, explained to PC Gamer, “There are a lot of materials out there, and to be honest, not every one of them deserves attention. So it’s good when you have an actual human review things and say, ‘OK, this is really useful material for juniors to pick up.’”
Owlcat’s motivation for this project stems from a desire to uplift fellow developers during challenging times in the industry. Tsvetkov emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “We see ourselves and our fellows in the other studios as partners, not competitors.” He reflected on the support Owlcat received from industry veterans when developing their first RPG, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, which debuted in 2018.
A Growing Repository of Knowledge
The GameDev Learning Drop is designed to be a living resource, with plans for continuous expansion and updates. Other developers and publishers are encouraged to contribute by submitting new materials for review. Tsvetkov noted, “Any developer or publisher can submit material to the database, where it’s then reviewed, categorized, and curated to ensure the quality of the contributions.” Once vetted, these submissions are formatted into a structured, user-friendly resource accessible to the entire game development community.
As Owlcat Games and its partners embark on this collaborative journey, they aim to foster an environment of shared knowledge and support within the gaming industry, ensuring that developers of all levels have access to the tools they need to succeed.
