Game Pass has proven to be a huge success for Xbox and developers since its inception, but supposedly the "gold rush is over" for indie developers looking to achieve major funding deals from these kinds of services.
Speaking to PC Gamer at this year's Game Developer Conference, the development teams behind Xbox Game Pass releases like Slay The Spire and Darkest Dungeon suggested indie developers are no longer getting the same deals or opportunities from the likes of XGP and Epic Games (the latter for exclusivity agreements).
Darkest Dungeon director Chris Bourassa said that Epic and Microsoft's offers for indie titles have "come down in scope" in recent times, with the "scale of the deals" no longer like the "big swinging days".
"The Gold Rush is over. I come from the Northwest Territories. The town I'm from was built on gold, and then they found diamonds further north. Maybe another paradigm shift is waiting for us, but I definitely think the scale of the deals I'm hearing about is significantly diminished from the big swinging days. Certainly we got our Epic [deal] at the right time."
The co-founder of Slay the Spire studio Mega Crit (Casey Yano) also summed up how dire the situation is for indie teams in general right now, according to some recent conversations at GDC:
"I talked to at least five small teams, like 35 [members] and under, during GDC, and they're like: Cuts, cuts, cuts, funding canceled, talks that were going on for a year, canceled... We're definitely very privileged to be able to self-fund. [Otherwise] I'd be very, very, very scared right now."
Unfortunately, the industry is experiencing a difficult period - with Microsoft earlier this year axing 1,900 jobs and restructuring parts of Xbox. Keep in mind though, Xbox hasn't officially commented about cutting back on indie deals and is still actively showing its support with the ID@Xbox program and plenty of upcoming Game Pass additions.
What are your thoughts about all of this? Leave a comment below.
[source pcgamer.com]
Comments 16
Bit gutting one of best things about gamepass is all the indies on it 😭
Maybe this is why we are seeing fewer and fewer titles coming to Game Pass these days? The only way that Microsoft will fund games going on to the service is if they see a return on that investment. If that return is getting smaller, then Microsoft will have little option but to cut back on what they offer, which in turn will see developers choosing not to go on the service. It's a spiral that could get much worse as time passes...
I am sorry but im not having this one if the game clicks and effort shows what else?
The appeal of indie games is creativity and price. That's why XBLA was so big on the 360, people could buy a couple 10-20 dollar indie games in between bigger releases.
But with gamepass, some people may give indies a try but most are just gonna say "why bother with that when i can play the triple A games on gamepass?" I love indie games but they do not grow gamepass and they're overshadowed by the bigger games.
All good things must come to an end, I guess.
Honestly, I haven't really touched an indie game in a while. Nothing against them, just so many other great games out there that grabbed my attention.
That's unfortunate. Indies have been the highlight of Gamepass. Games like Tinykin, Outer Wilds, and Project Wingman have left such good memories. I have better experience with smaller games than AAA games in the Gamepass library.
Maybe Xbox should make 3 different tiers of gamepass. Indie, Core (only first party) and Ultimate (indie, first and 3d party).
I’d at least go for the indie one, love the little and creative games people make often more than a non creative number x in a franchise AAA game.
@Friendly I like a lot of the indies too, but i dont think creating a 3rd tier will fix the problem of MS not shelling out big $$ like they used to for indie studios in order to secure their game on gamepass, which is the issue they are referring to. MS is instead offering them smaller amounts since they are in a much better position (in terms for in house studios and gamepass subs) then they were a few years ago. It's funny though cause even with now 40ish first party studios, we are still going half a year without a single new first party game
I do wonder if the indie games are really recouping the investment. Like I feel like the idea behind bank rolling indies was that they would be incubating the next generation of (eventually) big game devs. Sorta trying to recreate the growth of the 80’s and 90’s without tying it under a few mid sized to large companies. But that doesn’t seem to be happening and it is remaining fractured. So investors are going “why are we giving them a payday?”.
Generally people do not subscribe to GPU for indies. It’s just not what will attract the majority.
Sure MS need some to pad the service, and some will strike gold like Palworld. But MS will cut back on them to increase profits, and most likely replace them slowly with the ABK back catalogue.
There is no indication that any sort of scale back will be permanent (if one in fact exists). The "gold rush" could be back on when the economy turns around and the industry rebounds.
I’m not worried about it. Everyone across the industry is cutting back. It’s just what companies do in economic downturns. Things will go back up in time. They always do.
@RIghteousNixon I understand that the guy is saying he’d be worried, it’s his income too after all.
The inevitable video game crash is coming closer and closer.
The money ran out. Investors are looking others sectors to play casino.
@OrfeasDourvas
No crash is coming. The industry continues to grow year after year. Given that growth has slowed post COVID, but it’s still growing nonetheless. There are now 3.3 billion gamers worldwide. The industry will see ups and downs like any other, but nothing suggests an actual crash is anywhere on the horizon.
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