indie developer Archives

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

GTA 6’s ten-year development cycle would be a “very bad bet” for anyone but Rockstar, says former Bethesda dev

Concerns are rising about the release of GTA 6, with speculation that it may not launch until 2027 due to delays, ongoing leaks, and legal challenges faced by Rockstar. Former Bethesda lead artist Nate Purkeypile warns that the project's scale could be risky for any studio other than Rockstar, which has a track record of successfully managing large-scale games. The anticipated budget for GTA 6 is rumored to be around a billion dollars, with a development cycle exceeding a decade. Purkeypile emphasizes the importance of experience in handling ambitious projects, citing the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077 as a cautionary example. He suggests that Rockstar's experience allows them to take their time, but warns that many studios fail when attempting similar large projects without the necessary background. Purkeypile also expressed a desire for a potential GTA 7 set in Texas, incorporating immersive sim elements, but noted that the current development pace might delay its arrival until the 2040s.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Despite a disaster launch, Blair Witch inspired horror game sells over 100,000 copies as dev commits “to face everything head on”

Multiplayer horror games have gained popularity due to platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Recent successful titles include R.E.P.O, Phasmophobia, and Lethal Company, inspiring indie developers to create multiplayer experiences. Digital Cybercherries is developing a game called Don't Scream Together, which combines cooperative gameplay with a found footage horror aesthetic. The game faced challenges at launch, receiving negative reviews primarily due to microphone calibration issues and player confusion about mechanics. Despite this, it sold 100,000 copies within days, with 60,000 on the first day. The developers engaged with the community and addressed feedback, leading to updated reviews from some players. They released a patch to fix audio problems linked to Windows 11 Audio Enhancements and committed to improving microphone calibration. Don't Scream Together is currently available at a 38% discount on Steam until December 10.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Getting banned by Steam and Epic has made HORSES a best-seller — but this censorship bodes ill for creativity

Indie developer Santa Ragione's horror game HORSES has been banned from Steam without a clear explanation, leading to frustration from the developers and a lack of communication regarding the ban. Despite this setback, interest in the game has increased, resulting in strong sales on alternative platforms like GOG and itch.io, where it is currently a best-seller. The ban has made it difficult for Santa Ragione to secure external publishing deals, forcing them to seek private funding. Steam cited concerns over depictions of sexual conduct involving minors, while Epic referenced explicit sexual behavior and animal abuse, claims that Santa Ragione disputes. The game is available for purchase on GOG for .99 and on itch.io. GOG has expressed support for the game, emphasizing player choice in gaming experiences.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Dadum The Dice Launching on Steam in 2026

Dadum the Dice is a 3D tactical puzzle game set to release on Steam in 2026, developed by solo indie developer Pablo Picazo. The game was recognized at the Very Big Indie Pitch in Barcelona, securing a spot among the top three showcased games. Players guide a die through hand-crafted worlds, using the numbers on the die's faces to dictate movement and actions. The gameplay involves strategic decision-making and intelligent mechanics rather than relying on luck. Pablo Picazo has a background in cybersecurity and previously developed a game called Deer Journey. There is potential for future console and mobile adaptations of Dadum the Dice, and players can add it to their Steam wishlists.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Megabonk developer withdraws from ‘Best Debut Indie Game’ nomination at The Game Awards for a pretty good reason: ‘It’s not my debut game’

Megabonk has sold one million copies within two weeks of its release and received a nomination for Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2025. The developer, vedinad, withdrew the game from consideration, stating that it does not qualify as a debut game due to his previous experience creating games under different studio names. Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, expressed gratitude for vedinad's transparency regarding the nomination.

AppWizard

November 9, 2025

Stalker dev GSC Game World DMCA’d a Stalker-inspired indie off Steam⁠, and the devs are crying foul: ‘This is an abuse of power against small independent developers by a large corporation’

The indie developer of the cooperative survival horror shooter Misery announced on its Steam community hub that the game was delisted due to a DMCA strike from GSC Game World, which claimed Misery used their content without authorization. The developer, Maewing, shared an email from Valve stating the allegations and emphasized that Misery does not pose a threat to GSC's intellectual property, asserting that all content is original or legally licensed. The post also mentioned that Misery does not include any characters, plotlines, assets, or music from GSC's games. Following the DMCA claim, there was speculation about potential motivations related to the developers' alleged support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, although this remains unverified. The Misery Discord has since implemented new moderation rules to prevent inflammatory discussions.

AppWizard

October 21, 2025

“1 week ago we had 3 players”: Steam notifies surprised dev their demo was one of the most-played during Steam Next Fest

An indie developer, Conradical Games, transitioned from having three players for their game Desktop Defender to being recognized as one of the most-played demos during the Steam Next Fest. The demo attracted nearly 1,000 concurrent players and ranked as the 1,375th most wishlisted game on Steam.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

No Man’s Sky drops to its lowest price, but the deal is blasting off very soon

No Man's Sky has evolved from a rocky launch to become one of the finest space games, now offering extensive updates and content nearly a decade after its release. The game allows players to explore a vast universe, survive on various planets, and construct bases and starships. It features a simple premise of repairing a spaceship to explore the cosmos, with gameplay that can be tailored to individual preferences. Currently, No Man's Sky is available for .99 / £19.99 at Fanatical, with this offer ending on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

This Indie Developer Bought a $100 PC to Optimize Their Game

Indie game developer gitpullorigin is addressing player feedback for their upcoming chess roguelike title, Yes, My Queen, by purchasing a low-cost PC for performance testing. They acquired an Intel DC3217IYE Mini PC NUC Kit for €89, which features a 1.80 GHz Intel Core i3-3217U processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 120GB SSD. This approach has helped identify performance issues, such as text becoming invisible when using Vulkan on the integrated GPU and noticeable lag when using a custom cursor in Software mode.

AppWizard

September 21, 2025

9 months after its 1.0 launch flopped, an indie dev just learned that Steam never emailed the 130,000 people who wishlisted its game

Planet Centauri, a 2D sandbox game developed by Permadeath, launched after a decade in early access but sold only 581 units in its first five days. Despite over 100,000 sales and being on 130,000 wishlists, the game failed to gain visibility on Steam, not appearing on its New & Trending listings. The developer, Laurent Lechat, expressed frustration over the lack of reach, noting that the game's trailer had nearly 500,000 views on YouTube. Valve offered to feature Planet Centauri as a Daily Deal to improve visibility. The team has decided to pivot to developing a new roguelike game using the same engine, acknowledging that continuing to patch the original game is no longer feasible.