Everbloom Games, renowned for their work on Minecraft’s Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom DLC, is embarking on an exciting new chapter as they transition from established block builders to indie game creators with their inaugural title: Nullpoint Protocol. This co-op roguelite promises to deliver the exhilarating experience of MMO raid bosses without the tedious grind, with a target release set for 2026. Attendees at PAX West 2025 can get a sneak peek at Booth #648, where a playable demo will be available.
From Minecraft to Millions
The studio’s journey began in 2016 when a group of ambitious creators participated in a PlanetMinecraft build competition. Their innovative designs caught the attention of Microsoft, leading to an invitation to join the Minecraft Marketplace program, where their story-driven maps achieved remarkable sales success.
“We were constantly coming up against the restraints that come with making a game inside of an existing game and codebase,” says co-founder Tom van Berkel. “We needed more freedom, more capabilities. So, we made the risky and bold move to jump ship to indie game development.”
Nullpoint Protocol is designed as a boss rush roguelite for 1–4 players, emphasizing MMO-style encounter design and mechanical combat. The game eliminates the gear treadmill and filler content, focusing instead on tight, engaging fights and rapid restarts.
When discussing the game’s direction, van Berkel reflects on its appeal to fans of Final Fantasy XIV, noting the potential for a captivating gameplay loop. “We had a long, drawn-out concepting phase, where everyone on the team presented multiple game ideas,” he explains. “We then collectively took these ideas apart, creating prototypes for the ideas that had the most passion behind them, dropping the rest.”
From Blocks to Bosses
Everbloom’s origin story is a testament to modern creativity. Their success in the PlanetMinecraft competition led to collaborations with major franchises such as Disney, Dungeons & Dragons, and Universal Studios, reaching millions of players and garnering attention from notable publications like Polygon and Rolling Stone.
“We needed more freedom, more capabilities,” van Berkel reiterates. “So we made the risky and bold move to jump ship to indie game development.”
From UGC to Indie
“Going from UGC creators to indie game developers is an interesting move that we haven’t really seen before,” van Berkel adds. “But with the incredible rise of UGC platforms like Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite, I am confident that we will start seeing it more and more in the video game industry.”
This transition is becoming increasingly common as talented designers begin their careers in user-generated content (UGC) spaces before advancing to larger projects. Everbloom stands at the forefront of this evolution, crafting a full indie roguelite game that embodies their creative vision.
“I think the future of the games industry is currently making maps in Minecraft or games in Roblox,” van Berkel states. “These platforms provide an incredibly accessible way to make games quickly, and for a large audience. It’s an excellent training ground for game studios — it certainly has been for us.”
Nullpoint Protocol is poised for release in 2026, and for those attending PAX West 2025, a visit to Booth #648 promises an engaging hands-on experience with this exciting new title.
