The closure of Embracer-owned studios continues — this time it’s developer Piranha Bytes that’s reportedly shut down. Piranha Bytes is behind the Gothic, Risen, and Elex series.
I am not saying embracer or MS or Sony or whoever else are “good guys”
But actually look at the hellscape that is indie development right now. Studios with solid track records are fighting tooth and nail for publisher deals. And newer studios are just fucked. NoClip have done a few episodes of a “documentary” about making a game and Danny O’Dwyer gave a really depressing take on what it is like pitching for a publisher that compared it to Tinder and being glad if someone is kind enough to actually say “no” rather than ghosting you.
Some of the studios involved might have been able to secure publisher deals. Most would have gone out of business likely even sooner.
Its easy to blame big corporations and big corporations deserve a lot of blame. But it is more important to understand what is actually going on so that maybe people don’t throw shitfits when developers use Early Access or even try the kickstarter well again.
I am not saying embracer or MS or Sony or whoever else are “good guys”
But actually look at the hellscape that is indie development right now. Studios with solid track records are fighting tooth and nail for publisher deals. And newer studios are just fucked. NoClip have done a few episodes of a “documentary” about making a game and Danny O’Dwyer gave a really depressing take on what it is like pitching for a publisher that compared it to Tinder and being glad if someone is kind enough to actually say “no” rather than ghosting you.
Some of the studios involved might have been able to secure publisher deals. Most would have gone out of business likely even sooner.
Its easy to blame big corporations and big corporations deserve a lot of blame. But it is more important to understand what is actually going on so that maybe people don’t throw shitfits when developers use Early Access or even try the kickstarter well again.