"Reviewing 3,000 Games, Signing 6 a Year": An Indie Publishing Veteran Warns Against Get-Rich-Quick Mindsets in Game Development

Summary

GameLook recently interviewed a veteran independent game publisher, who revealed that his team evaluates roughly 3,000 indie games annually but ultimately signs only 6 of them, a signing rate of just 0.2%. The publisher bluntly stated that many developers enter the indie game space with a "get rich quick" mindset, which is unrealistic. He emphasized that success in indie games is not accidental and requires long-term accumulation and polishing, and publishers are extremely cautious in product selection, focusing on innovation, completeness, and market potential. The article also points out that when people talk about "evergreen games," they often think of major live-service titles from big commercial companies, while indie games are often marginalized. However, this precisely indicates both huge opportunities and fierce competition in the indie game sector. The interview has sparked heated discussions among developer communities, prompting many small and medium-sized teams to reflect on their project development and publishing strategies. Some believe the indie game industry has shifted from an early dividend period to a rational phase, where low-quality products struggle to survive, while high-quality and creatively unique works can still stand out. For players, this trend means the market will feature more carefully selected, premium indie games. This dialogue not only…