indie game development Archives

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Coatsink’s founders are leaving the company

Coatsink, an indie game development studio, is undergoing a leadership change as its founding trio—CEO Tom Beardsmore, CDO Paul Crabb, and COO Eddie Beardsmore—will step down from their roles by the end of the year after 14 years. Richard Snowdon, who has been with Coatsink since 2015 and served as head of studio since 2022, will become the new CEO. Snowdon has prior experience at Eutechnyx, Double Eleven, and Accenture.

AppWizard

August 7, 2025

From Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Minecraft to Roguelite Raids: Everbloom Games Unveils Nullpoint Protocol

Everbloom Games is transitioning from creating content for Minecraft to indie game development with their first title, Nullpoint Protocol, a co-op roguelite set for release in 2026. The game focuses on MMO-style boss encounters without the grind of traditional RPGs and will feature a playable demo at PAX West 2025, Booth #648. Everbloom's origins trace back to a 2016 PlanetMinecraft competition, leading to successful collaborations with major franchises. Co-founder Tom van Berkel emphasizes the need for creative freedom as a driving force behind their shift to indie development, reflecting on the potential for growth in the industry through user-generated content platforms.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

20 indie games we saw at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona that you’ve got to check out

The Very Big Indie Pitch (VBIP) at PG Connects Barcelona 2025 showcased a variety of PC and console games, marking a significant milestone for the VBIP format and highlighting the indie game development scene in the city. Indie developers had five minutes to present their games to rotating panels of judges from publishing, development, and media sectors, receiving valuable feedback. The event featured dedicated pitches for PC, console, and mobile games, fostering networking opportunities among developers at different project stages. The pitching sessions are a key feature of PG Connects conferences, providing insights into global development scenes. A curated list of games presented during the event was available, with details for future participation on the Big Indie Pitch website.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Mobile firm Brightika to invest $3m in PC and console titles

Brightika is investing a substantial amount over the next two years to enter the PC and console gaming market, aiming to support indie game development with financial backing, marketing, and publishing assistance. The company has nearly 200 million installations of its mobile games and plans to replicate this success in the new markets. Discussions are ongoing with various development teams, and some titles may be showcased at the Steam Next Fest from June 9th to 16th. Founder Alexander Rodichev highlights the goal of providing marketing and distribution support to developers in these sectors.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

This cartridge lets you run a fake Windows 3.1 on your Game Boy, complete with Minesweeper

The GBS Windows cartridge, created by Rubenretro using GB Studio, allows users to experience a faux version of Windows 3.1 on the Game Boy. It includes applications like Minesweeper, a media player, and Paint, enabling creative expression with features such as printing via a Game Boy printer. The cartridges have sold out due to high demand, but customers can sign up on Etsy for restock notifications.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Indie Game Utsav Steam sale features 110+ Indian games with discounts up to 80% – The Times of India

Indie Game Utsav and Comic Con India are hosting their first Steam sale from April 10 to 20, 2025, featuring over 110 Indian-made and Indian-origin PC games at discounts of up to 80%. The event will be highlighted on Steam's global frontpage from April 18 to 20. Concurrently, Indie Game Utsav will debut at the Mumbai Comic Con 2025 on April 12-13, showcasing over 40 indie games for PC and console. Industry partners include Intel, Xbox, Xsolla, Specter, and Nodwin Gaming, with IGDA India as the community partner. Featured titles include Bao Bao's Cozy Laundromat, Fears to Fathom, and Raji: An Ancient Epic, along with upcoming titles for wishlisting. The Steam sale page will remain active until April 20 at 11 PM IST.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

ID@Xbox has paid out $5bn to indie devs so far

Microsoft's indie support initiative, ID@Xbox, has distributed over a billion dollars to independent developers since its launch in 2013. In the past year, more than 1,000 titles were released through the program, which has collaborated with over 5,000 developers worldwide and involved approximately 6,000 titles. The program aims to empower developers to reach audiences across multiple platforms, including console, PC, and cloud.

AppWizard

February 9, 2025

My Steam wishlist is bigger than ever thanks to the indie devs flooding social media with 15-second clips explaining their games

A new trend in indie game development involves showcasing games through 15-second clips, which has gained popularity and increased Steam wishlists. The trend was initiated by developer quicktequila with their game Tamashika, a psychedelic shooter that has received over 150,000 likes. Detective Dotson is a pixel art mystery game set in modern-day India, launching on Steam on April 3, with a free demo available. Car Park Capital is a satirical city-building game that critiques the car industry by transforming walkable cities into parking lots. Truckful is a serene simulation game where players drive through woods while uncovering a small-town mystery.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

The Big Indie Interviews: Hyena Hon on award-winning competitive game Crush!

The Very Big Indie Pitch competition at Pocket Gamer Connects Jordan allows developers to present their games to expert judges for feedback and potential prizes. Mostafa Harb from Hyena Hon showcased their game Crush!, a competitive party game for two players that evolved from a game jam project. Harb highlighted the challenges of indie game development in Lebanon due to economic instability, emphasizing the need for funding and stable employment. He described the positive reception of Crush! during the pitch, noting the valuable feedback received from both casual gamers and industry experts. Harb plans to expand Crush! with a unique art style and diverse gameplay mechanics, aiming for a Steam release. Additionally, he and co-founder Jawad Karaky have ideas for future projects, including an educational cooking game, a racing game, and a narrative-driven game for the visually impaired.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

How AI will shape the games industry: Exclusive insights from the AI Gamechangers newsletter

OpenAI recently achieved record investments in AI, with ongoing funding announcements for AI in gaming. The Pocket Gamer Connects and Big Screen Gaming conferences featured over 10 hours of AI-related content, indicating strong industry interest. The AI Gamechangers newsletter was launched to inform readers about AI's impact on gaming, covering various platforms and aspects of game development. It offers weekly interviews with industry innovators and curated news on AI in gaming. Notable contributors to the newsletter include professionals from Charisma.ai, Quicksave, Kinetix, and others, discussing topics like interactive narratives, AI in game studios, and legal implications for intellectual property. The consensus among industry leaders is that AI will significantly impact gaming, but its implementation should enhance human creativity. Additionally, AI technologies may transform legal processes in mergers and acquisitions by streamlining document analysis. An upcoming AI-powered cozy game, AuraVale, is also mentioned, along with future interview topics related to AI in game development.