How to Start an Indie Game Studio the Right Way: Figuring out how to start an indie game studio is one thing. Doing it without repeating the mistakes that sink most first attempts is something else entirely. Rob Carroll, CEO of Rollcraft, came to game
Indie Game Creator Marketing: How Indies Win With Creators Without Big Budgets: There is a persistent belief in indie game development that working with content creators requires either a large budget or the luck of going viral. Mercedes Boberg has spent years proving that neither
Indie Game Marketing Strategy – What Actually Drives Game Sales: Viral moments feel like the goal. A clip blows up on TikTok, a streamer picks up your game, and suddenly everyone knows it exists. But awareness alone does not pay for the next project. Sales
Building MeetToMatch and Game Industry Networking – A Conversation With Fedor van Herpen: Some of the most useful businesses in the games industry did not start with a grand vision. They started with someone trying to solve an immediate, practical problem. That is more or
Indie Game Press Coverage Getting Indie Game Press Coverage is one of the most common pain points for indie game developers. You’ve spent months or years building something you believe in, you send out press kits, and then nothing. No reviews, no previews, no mentions.
A Game Launch Is Not the End of the Story: Many indie developers assume that a game’s fate is decided during launch week. If sales are slow or wishlists do not convert, the common belief is that the game is finished. Developers move on to
Why Indie Game Community Marketing Is the Foundation of Indie Game Success: Indie developers often focus most of their time on building the game itself. Mechanics, art direction, performance, and polish usually dominate the development process. While those elements are critical, they are only part
Why Games Fail (And Why It’s Usually Not the Idea): When indie developers ask why some games fail while others succeed, the conversation often drifts toward marketing budgets, genre trends, or bad luck. In this candid fireside chat, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell
Why Indie Game Press Still Matters in 2026: In 2026, getting Indie Game Press coverage as an indie developer is harder than it has ever been. Thousands of games launch each year across Steam, console storefronts, and emerging platforms, while media teams shrink, attention spans
Why PC Game Distribution Needs a Broader Strategy: For many indie developers, PC game distribution begins and ends with Steam. While Steam remains the dominant platform in the PC ecosystem, relying on a single storefront introduces real business risk, especially in an increasingly global and
Indie game marketing: Breaking through the noise in today’s crowded games market is one of the hardest challenges indie developers face. Great games fail every year—not because they lack quality, but because players never hear about them. In an episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, host
The IndieGameBusiness® 2026 Battle Pass gives you access to the remaining 2026 lineup at a reduced price that continues to decrease as each event takes place. As each event passes, the cost adjusts so you are only paying for what is left. Grab your ticket for just $88
A New Chapter for IndieGameBusiness®: The IndieGameBusiness® community is entering its next phase, focused on deeper education, broader access, and long-term sustainability for indie developers worldwide. In the first podcast episode of the year, Jay Powell sat down with Ash Cason to outline what’s next
Podcast Recap – From Call of Duty to Indie Dev : In this episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, host Dan Long sits down with Jess Feidt, Owner of Underwater Fire Games and creator of Particle Hearts. Jess shares an unfiltered look at what it truly
Building Global Teams Without Losing Heart: As indie studios continue to evolve and expand, many are learning that growth doesn’t always mean opening another local office—it can mean going global. In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, sat down
Games as Platforms: The Future of Player-Created Worlds – Insights from Alex Seropian of Look North World : As game development continues to evolve, the concept of games as platforms is reshaping how creators build, players engage, and studios sustain their futures. In a recent
The Growing Role of Games in Expanding Story Universes: As the entertainment industry looks for new ways to expand stories across multiple mediums, games are increasingly becoming the foundation of transmedia strategies. In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Dan Long sat down with Fieldman Robinson, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner
Preserving Gaming History with GOG – Insights from Piotr Gnyp and Marcin Paczynski : As the conversation around game preservation grows louder, platforms like GOG.com are stepping up to ensure classic titles remain accessible to new generations of players. In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell,
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
The State of Pitching in 2025 – Insights from Yves Le Yaouanq: As the gaming industry evolves, so too does the state of pitching games in 2025 to publishers. In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness® sat down with
How Indie Devs Can Do More With Less: In the ever-changing world of indie game development, one thing remains constant: limited budgets and endless ambition. In the latest episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness® sits down with Mike
Introduction – A Shift from Content Creation to Community Management: In the gaming industry, community management plays a crucial role in a game’s success, from fan engagement to brand loyalty. In a recent IndieGameBusiness podcast episode, Jack Pattillo, the Community Manager at Channel37, shared his
The State of the Gaming Industry, Data-Driven Insights with Pontus Mahler: Investment in the gaming industry is constantly evolving, making it crucial for developers, investors, and publishers to stay informed. In a recent conversation with Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness® , Pontus Mahler, Managing
The Secrets to Pitching and Publishing Success – Insights from Joshua Garrity: The process of game pitching and publishing a game can often feel like a complex and daunting task, especially for indie developers looking to stand out in a crowded market. Joshua Garrity, Head
Introduction: The world of physical game publishing has seen numerous changes in the last few years, with independent companies making a significant impact. JRod Gingerich, the CEO and Physical Game Liaison at Fresh Brewed Games, brings a unique perspective to the industry, especially considering the
Introduction: The gaming industry has seen dramatic changes over the last few decades, but few individuals have experienced as much of its evolution as Jim Hudson. With 30 years of experience, Jim has worked across major studios, from Activision and EA to Microsoft, and even
Introduction: In a recent episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Dan Long, hosted a fascinating conversation with Ben Kvalo, the Founder and CEO of Midwest Games. Titled “From Startup to Success: The Midwest Games Story,” the podcast took a deep dive into the origins of Midwest
Introduction: In a riveting episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, host Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness® sits down with Cord Smith, the Studio Head at Inevitable Studios. The discussion revolved around Smith’s remarkable journey from freelancing for gaming magazines to launching his indie studio, the
Introduction: Physical Game Releases: In the latest episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, host Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness® sits down with Michael Yum, CEO of PM Studios. They explore the significance of physical releases for indie games, debunking the common notion that
Introduction: Indie game development has always been the dream of many aspiring creators, but the journey is far from simple. On the latest episode of IndieGameBusiness®, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, speaks with Jonathan Concepcion, lead developer and founder of Galactic Slice, about
Introduction: In a recent IndieGameBusiness® podcast episode, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, hosted Brett Taylor, the founder of My Dog Zorro, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities in indie game development. Brett shares his journey, discussing the pivotal career moves, personal
Introduction: Game Marketing: In a recent episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Dan Long, the host, interviewed Guy Costantini, CEO and co-founder of an as-yet-unannounced studio, to discuss the crucial aspects of marketing within the game industry. With years of experience across major game studios, including
Introduction: Game Startup launching a game development studio is no easy feat, especially in a rapidly evolving industry. In this episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Dan Long hosts Morgan Kane, Founder and CEO of Marauder Tech, and Joel Balyeat, Chief Product Officer. The discussion dives
Introduction: In the ever-evolving world of video games, the role of a game scout has emerged as a crucial link between developers and publishers. This blog post delves into the intriguing world of game scouting, featuring insights from Meg Clarke, Senior Game Scout at Team17,
Introduction: Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are complex transactions that can make or break companies. To shed light on this intricate process, Dan Long and Ash Pletcher, hosts of IndieGameBusiness®, interviewed Jacques Benchetrit, a leading expert from Agora Gaming Partners. In this episode, Jacques shares his
Introduction: In a recent episode of IndieGameBusiness®, Dan Long sat down with Max Louis, the Founder and Studio Director at Magna Ludum Creatives (MLC). With extensive experience in the gaming industry, Max shares valuable insights on how to excel in providing services for games. This
Introduction: In the latest episode of the IndieGameBusiness® podcast, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, interviews Chris Zukowski, Creative Director of How To Market A Game. Chris shares invaluable insights into common mistakes indie game developers make and how to avoid them to
Introduction: In a recent episode of IndieGameBusiness®, Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, had an engaging conversation with Juliana Brito, CEO of Indie Hero. The podcast titled “Self Publishing, Management, LATAM Game Market, and Investment” provided a wealth of insights for indie game
Introduction: In a recent episode of IndieGameBusiness®, host Jay Powell, CEO and Founder of The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness®, sat down with Alan Wilson, Co-Founder of Tripwire Interactive, to discuss crucial aspects of indie game funding and publishing. This insightful conversation shed light on the evolving landscape of
Exploring Discord Games with ExJin Studios In this episode of our podcast series, “The Future of the Video Game Industry,” we dive deep into the world of Discord games with Timothy Johnson, Founder and Principal Engineer of ExJin Studios. Joining us as our podcast host
Podcast Recap: “An Indie Game: From Conception to Completion” Indie game development: In this episode of our podcast series, “An Indie Game: From Conception to Completion,” we had the pleasure of hosting Renee Gittins, the studio head of Stumbling Cat and the brilliant mind behind
The Significance of Physical Games in Today’s Digital Landscape In an era dominated by digital downloads and online marketplaces, the role of physical games might seem diminished. However, industry veterans Josh Fairhurst, CEO at Limited Run Games & Mighty Rabbit Studios and Jay Powell, CEO
Offering a free demo of a game can be an effective method for developers to use in order to increase their visibility and capture the interest and engagement of players for their Indie Game. Mastering Demo Design: Insider Tips and Data-Driven Strategies from Chris Zukowski
Learn strategies that can help you effectively research and analyze your competitors in order to build a successful marketing plan for indie games. Unlock Success: Spy on Your Indie Game Competition with Expert Insights from Chris Zukowski! Marketing strategist Chris Zukowski is renowned for his
IndieGameBusiness® recently hosted its highly anticipated event, ‘So You Made a Game, Now What? The Next Steps to Getting Your Game Pitched, Made, and Published,’ which successfully took place from February 5th to 9th. This event came on the heels of the game jam that
IndieGameBusiness and Global Game Jam are offering free sessions to developers who want to continuing building their indie games and pitch them to publishers in the future.
We were delighted to have Chris White, SVP of Business Development and Content Acquisitions at Green Man Gaming, sharing insights on “How to Make the Perfect Pitch Deck for Your Indie Game.” In this highlight, Chris shares his expertise on how pitch decks differ when
A Blueprint for the Gaming Industry On this week’s episode of IndieGameBusiness™ podcast Jim Mulford from acQyr eXchange was on the show to discuss the rising prominence of loyalty programs within the video game industry. In this short summary we’ll be going over the topics
Offering a free demo of a game can be an effective method for developers to use in order to increase their visibility and capture the interest and engagement of players for their Indie Game. Clever developers have unlocked the secret to instant visibility for their
Maximizing Marketing Visibility and Engagement: Key Strategies for Indie Game Promotion Summary: Game marketing expert Chris Zukowski, a regular guest on IndieGameBusiness, shifts gears to focus solely on audience questions. If you’ve ever wondered about indie game marketing strategies, optimizing Steam pages, interpreting stats, or
On this week’s episode of IndieGameBusiness™ special guest Andrew Czarnietzki from Only By Midnight came on the podcast to discuss his own personal journey into the world of publishing. Self publishing can be a daunting task for an indie developer and as Andrew explains in
Marketing strategist Chris Zukowski shares valuable insights on how to spy on your competition in order to build a successful marketing plan for an indie game. Through his website and consulting work, Zukowski has gained valuable experience in the industry and offers practical tips for
