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'Single-player Tarkov' Road to Vostok's solo dev admits its huge popularity is "running away from me," but he has a plan
AppWizard
April 13, 2026

‘Single-player Tarkov’ Road to Vostok’s solo dev admits its huge popularity is “running away from me,” but he has a plan

Antti Leinonen, a Finnish soldier turned solo developer, launched his survival shooter game, Road to Vostok, which sold around 140,000 copies and has over 25,000 daily active users five days post-launch. He faces challenges managing player feedback, with over 11,000 unread emails, and plans to hire additional support next month. Leinonen is pleased with the game's launch performance and believes it debuted in a solid state for early access. He intends to take a break for personal recovery before implementing hotfixes and enhancing the game, including improvements to enemy AI and new features.
Veteran indie developer scared to reveal new game in case it gets "slurped up by AI"
AppWizard
April 6, 2026

Veteran indie developer scared to reveal new game in case it gets “slurped up by AI”

Lucas Pope is a notable game developer known for creating "Papers, Please" and "The Return of the Obra Dinn." He has since worked on smaller projects, including Mars After Midnight, but has not released anything on Steam recently. During a podcast, Pope expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on game development, particularly regarding idea theft and the potential for his work to be copied or imitated. He feels uneasy discussing ongoing projects due to these risks and reflects on the pressure of following up his previous successes. Despite these worries, Pope's reputation allows him to avoid some challenges faced by less-known developers, and his next project is expected to generate significant interest.
Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception
AppWizard
April 4, 2026

Subscription service for indie games gets a rough reception

Indie Pass will launch on April 13, offering a subscription model for .99 per month, providing access to a curated selection of 70 indie games primarily from the indie.io catalog. Developers will be compensated based on the playtime of their games by subscribers. The service has received mixed reactions, with concerns about promoting games designed for prolonged engagement, the preference for direct purchases, and the lack of ownership of games. Critics, including George Broussard, argue that subscription models harm developers, while some see potential for discoverability for indie titles. Jess Mitchell from Indie Pass emphasized discoverability as a key incentive for developers. Publisher Devolver Digital humorously commented on the subscription model's viability. As the launch nears, Indie Pass must demonstrate its value to both developers and gamers amidst skepticism and competition in the gaming market.
March's top new PC/console games; Steam's wishlist email changes
AppWizard
April 3, 2026

March’s top new PC/console games; Steam’s wishlist email changes

Insights from the GameDiscoverCo newsletter highlight trends in game discovery and sales data for March 2026. Key points include: - The introduction of The Rage Index and The Abandonment Leaderboard by GDCo's Insights Lab. - The U.S. PlayStation hardware price analysis indicates challenges for the PlayStation 5 due to AI-related component shortages and inflation. - Valve has updated the Steam homepage in desktop Beta with enhanced features for user navigation. - The Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 154% increase in sales month-on-month following the launch of Pokémon Pokopia. - PlayStation Plus announced its April titles, including Lords of the Fallen and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, while Xbox introduced Barbie Horse Trails and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Game Pass. - Antoine Mayerowitz discussed the need for better base pricing strategies for PlayStation. - Roblox’s Rivals gained popularity due to ranked play modes. - Amazon Luna is releasing a Masters Of The Universe-licensed game and free games for Prime members. - Indie.io is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service for PC indie games. - Rec Room is closing on June 1st, and Sony is acquiring Cinemersive Labs. - Slay The Spire 2 sold over 5 million copies, while Crimson Desert sold 2.2 million on Steam. - Slay The Spire 2 leads new releases revenue with over 0 million gross, followed by Crimson Desert. - MLB The Show 26 sold over 1 million units in the U.S. - Valve's changes to wishlist notification statistics aim to help developers optimize marketing strategies.
"Gabe really had a great vision": Steam became a PC gaming cornerstone because Valve built a community with "stickiness," says Nightdive chief who worked on GameStop's Steam competitor
AppWizard
April 3, 2026

“Gabe really had a great vision”: Steam became a PC gaming cornerstone because Valve built a community with “stickiness,” says Nightdive chief who worked on GameStop’s Steam competitor

GameStop was a pioneer in digital distribution before Valve's Steam became the leading platform for PC gaming. Larry Kuperman, a veteran of the gaming industry, contributed to the development of Impulse, an online store acquired by GameStop. In the 2000s, third-party digital distribution was not intuitive, as game sales were primarily controlled by physical retailers. BioWare regretted not creating a platform like Steam. Amazon's attempts to compete with Steam were unsuccessful. Kuperman attributes Steam's success to its community-building efforts, which fostered loyalty among users. The platform significantly lowered barriers for game developers, allowing anyone to publish games for a nominal fee. Steam has been crucial for indie developers, providing extensive reach and discoverability compared to other platforms like GOG. Kuperman credits GOG as essential for his work at Nightdive, and Gabe Newell's ideas continued to shape Valve after he stepped back from active development.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
March 30, 2026

If you’re sick of waiting for Ubisoft to make a new Splinter Cell, this newly announced indie stealth game might fill the Sam Fisher-shaped hole in your life

The Splinter Cell franchise has been silent for nearly thirteen years, with a remake of the original game reportedly in development, though it has faced significant changes, including the departure of its original director. Meanwhile, an indie stealth game called Lizard State has been announced, featuring unique gameplay elements such as "mimic cameras" that transform into spider-like devices and another gadget that can incapacitate guards. The game aims to provide a compelling stealth experience, with initial impressions raising some concerns about tactile engagement. A thrilling moment in the trailer showcases the protagonist executing a judo throw combined with a rifle maneuver. Details about the release date are not available, but players can request access to an upcoming playtest on the game's Steam page.
The director of Tales of Kenzera: Zau learned his most important game development lesson while working with Ridley Scott: 'That's why we're able to make games faster'
AppWizard
March 29, 2026

The director of Tales of Kenzera: Zau learned his most important game development lesson while working with Ridley Scott: ‘That’s why we’re able to make games faster’

Surgent Studios faced challenges after the commercial failure of their first game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, leading to layoffs and potential redundancy for the entire team by October 2024. However, the studio rebounded by launching two new games, including the horror game Dead Take in 2025, which was well-received on Steam. This shift in strategy focused on smaller, more sustainable projects rather than lengthy development cycles. The experience gained from Zau contributed to the studio's efficiency in producing new games. Salim, the studio's director, also created a child-friendly multiplayer game called FixForce. He remains open to larger projects in the future but acknowledges the competitive nature of the gaming market.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
March 26, 2026

“Nobody wants their games to look like Italian brainrot” – Indie publisher New Blood CEO urges devs to push back against DLSS 5 just like they did with NFTs and crypto games

A growing number of independent developers, including New Blood's CEO Dave Oshry and developer David Szymanski, are skeptical about Nvidia's DLSS 5 and its generative AI graphics tools. They express concerns that generative AI is irrelevant to Deep Learning Super Sampling, questioning the branding and technology connection. Oshry suggests that if Nvidia rebranded the technology as “Nvidia Generative Upscaling,” it would face backlash from the gaming community. Their stance reflects a broader apprehension about gaming technology's direction and emphasizes the importance of aligning innovations with player expectations and community feedback.
Cancelled Last Of Us Game Returns In Last Way You'd Expect
AppWizard
March 26, 2026

Cancelled Last Of Us Game Returns In Last Way You’d Expect

Naughty Dog has canceled a new installment in The Last of Us franchise, shifting focus back to single-player experiences. An indie project inspired by Factions, initially called United State, has been rebranded as Terminal War, a third-person 4v4 multiplayer shooter developed by Albatross Interactive. The game captures the essence of The Last of Us and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam, with plans for a console version depending on its success. A brief gameplay clip has received positive reactions, highlighting mechanics reminiscent of the original series. The future of The Last of Us Part III remains uncertain.
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