IndieGameBusiness®

It’s time to ask traditional video game publishing - are you ok? While the rest of the industry seems to evolve overnight, publishing remains the same, despite clear areas of concern. In this session, we’ll examine the state of publishing today, areas of risk and opportunity, and options available to developers and publishers alike.

Juan Pablo Guzmán Fernández, CEO of Infinite Thread Games, shares his ongoing experience leading an indie studio. In this talk, he walks through the development of the games Hitori Kakurenbo Online and Hidalgo, covering production, marketing, funding, and team building. He discusses remote workflows, incubation programs, and the importance of early playtesting and market-driven design. The session...

Dan is a co-founder of award-winning 'The Detective Society', a board games company based in London, UK. In this talk, hear about how his small side project has survived 5-years without investment, and grown to be a leader in the innovative world of digital-hybrid gaming (part-board game, part video game)! Dan will talk about his experience raising money on Kickstarter (over £300k so far),...

Game development costs are soaring to unprecedented heights, driven by the proliferation of new platforms, pandemic-fueled salary surges, shifting business models, and diverse expectations from different generations of gamers. In an industry where every new release is held to increasingly higher standards, players are paradoxically playing fewer games and for less hours. The challenge to create a...

Unlock the true power of a remote studio! Learn how to build strong teams, streamline workflows, and tackle challenges head-on. Through expert strategies and real lessons from Noname Studios, discover what it takes to thrive and innovate—no matter where you are.

Securing a publishing deal takes more than a 'cool' game idea. It requires evidence of a marketable game, an engaged audience, and a capable team. This talk explores how data-driven development can support these three pillars: improving game quality through player data and player-centered design; using data to build and engage your player community early; and demonstrating team readiness t...

This session will include a wealth of trademark, copyright, and contract law basics that every indie developer or studio needs to know PLUS relevant legal updates affecting the gaming industry, Artificial Intelligence legal aspects, and more! The “Play to Win” presentation last year in 2024 was loaded with information but this year’s DLC edition will include all the necessary updates that indie st...

It’s never too late to follow your passion but real life doesn't hit pause. This is the story of building our first indie game while juggling a full-time job, family life, and all the responsibilities that come with adulthood. From finding a partner who shared the dream, to navigating burnout, budget limits, and baby naps, we learned that progress is possible even if it’s slow. If you're t...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness we’re joined by Julian Rice, Founder and CEO of Rice Games Inc, to talk about the long, challenging, and inspiring journey of bringing Shujinkou to life. From showing the game at Tokyo Game Show in 2019 to navigating a failed Kickstarter, Julian shares how his team overcame obstacles and kept pushing forward. We dive into the decision to shift from a 2D platfor...

In the world of Free and Open Source Software, you don't owe any subscription fees, your work isn't fed into an AI, and your money can go where it matters - to your team and your games. But is anything ever TRULY free? Well, it turns out, sometimes yes. In this presentation, we'll go over some incredible products in the FOSS ecosystem that you can and should adopt into your tech stack,...

Retention and productivity aren’t luck - they’re built. In this session, I'll break down how MLC Studio keeps a 98%+ retention rate and an award-winning team that's highly productive and engaged. Learn how to nurture culture, motivate your team, set boundaries, and give feedback that drives real results. Backed by data and experience, this talk will give you practical strategies to keep yo...

Pendragon Wachtel is an experience indie developer, publisher, and team founder. He has built titles from the ground up both with and without funding. In this session, we will overview how to get from zero to funding, but most importantly, how to survive the time between the two. We'll cover how to avoid high turnover, how to maintain structure, and how to deliver a build to investors that can...

Join Deloryan Hommers, CEO and founder of Studio Deloryan, as she shares how a personal hobby grew into an award-winning game studio. What started as a solo project, Horse Reality, is now a thriving browser game with over 430.000 players worldwide and a dedicated international team behind it. In this talk, Deloryan opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs she faced while shifting from hobby...

It's 2025 and people are still trying to crowdfund their game? Yes, they are! The landscape has changed, along with an ever-changing social media space, so how important is growing a community to fund your project? What does the big crowdfunding boom of 2015 teach us a decade later, if anything? We will explore how building a community has changed the last 10 years and what you need to have a...

Game development is tough, but shipping games can be tougher. These days, having a polished release with lots of options is bare minimum. If a game has obvious technical hiccups, they can easily hurt player perception, & possibly tank a game launch. Yet, time & time again many developers launch their games that despite being technically *done*, feel rushed & incomplete, sinkings like a...

In this episode, we’re joined by Fieldman Robinson, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner at Vertical Voyage, to explore the intersection of games and transmedia storytelling. We break down what transmedia really is, why games are uniquely positioned to lead these experiences, and the common challenges studios face when expanding their IP across formats. Fieldman also shares practical strategies for...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we sit down with Larry Kuperman, VP of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, to explore what it takes to survive and thrive in the ever-changing games industry. Larry shares his insight on developing your personal brand, how it can complement your studio’s identity, and why visibility and authenticity matter more than ever. We’ll also discuss the role of...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we sit down with Sam Striker, Co-Founder and CEO of Native Darkness, to unpack the journey of building immersive audio-first games and what makes sound such a powerful force in storytelling. Sam walks us through the origin story of Native Darkness and their partnership with Ovani Sound. We explore the value of interactive audio, the differences between working...

In this episode we’re joined by Yves Le Yaouanq, Chief Content Officer at Focus Entertainment, for a deep dive into the current state of pitching, publishing, and investment in the games industry. Yves shares his perspective on how the landscape has evolved in 2025, what publishers are really looking for, and how developers can set themselves apart. We explore the art and science of pitching in to...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Mike Gallagher, Founder of Untitled Advertising Lab, to talk about the evolving marketing landscape for indie studios. Mike shares how his team helps game developers unlock incremental revenue from older titles and support self-publishing efforts when traditional publishing and VC routes fall short. We dive into what “doing more with less” real...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we sit down with Joanie Kraut, CEO of Women in Games International (WIGI), to explore how the organization is building a more equitable and inclusive gaming industry. Joanie shares the mission behind WIGI, the impact of their initiatives, and what the future looks like as they approach their 20th anniversary in 2025. We also discuss how WIGI actively supports...

Join Omar for a presentation covering the essentials of pitching your video game to publishers. From structure and flow to the must-have elements of a winning pitch, this session is all about showcasing your game's potential and getting publishers excited to support it!

Learn what it takes to make a standout trailer from four game trailer makers who come from the craft from different angles and work experience. The panel combines their experience in: AAA game trailers, indie game trailers, cinematic short films of VR games, and games journalism. You will learn how and why certain game trailers grab the eyeballs of customers, press, influencers by clearly showing...

Most gamers discover new titles through YouTube, Twitch and other social media platforms, but how do you get creators to talk about your game? This session breaks down actionable strategies for identifying the right influencers, reaching out effectively, and building lasting relationships. Learn how to time your efforts around key milestones to boost visibility and get noticed by the Steam algorit...

Marketing agency founder Michael Brown discusses the best way to optimize your marketing to ensure you get the maximum return on Steam Next Fest and the tips and tricks Vicarious uses to ensure momentum for their games.