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indie development
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- 1Indie dev earned $15K a year despite $560K in game salesโผTwo Steam games made $560K but the co-creator took home $15K/year
A co-creator of two Steam games that generated roughly $560,000 across 135,000 sales says he only took home about $15,000 a year, still driving a 2012 Mazda. High refund rates, particularly from Chinese players, Steam's 30% commission, and publisher cuts consumed most of the revenue. The story has reignited debate about how little indie developers actually earn from seemingly successful games.
- 2RimWorld 1.7 ditches Unity for Ludeon's in-house Waylith engineโผRimWorld 1.7 moves from Unity to Ludeon's in-house Waylith engine
Rudeon Studios, the developer behind the colony sim RimWorld, has announced update 1.7, which migrates the game from Unity to a new proprietary engine called Waylith. The move, detailed on the studio's blog, marks a significant technical overhaul for the long-running title and has drawn attention from developers and players discussing the risks and benefits of moving off licensed engines.
- 3Indie developer brings debt payoff content to MastodonโผHi Mastodon ๐ This is Better Habits Daily, run by an indie iOS developer who makes DebtFree, a debt payoff planner. What
Better Habits Daily, an indie iOS developer behind the debt payoff planner app DebtFree, has introduced itself on Mastodon. It says the account will focus on practical debt math such as snowball and avalanche payoff methods, interest and minimum payment calculations, plus occasional free calculators, while explicitly avoiding get-rich-quick content.
- 4Skylight weather app expands to iPad with 10-day outlookโSkylight runs on iPad too. The outlook screen uses the extra room to lay out all 10 days, with the warmest, coolest and
Indie weather app Skylight now runs on iPad, using the larger display to show a full 10-day forecast at once, highlighting the warmest, coolest and wettest days at the top. The app remains free on the App Store, and the developer is promoting the iPad version to weather and iOS enthusiasts.
- 5Indie developer releases free corporate horror gameโMy CORPORATE HORROR GAME 'Secrets to SUCCESS' is available FOR FREE on the Patreon. URL: https://www. patreon.com/CatTri
Indie developer CatTrigger has released 'Secrets to SUCCESS', a corporate-themed horror game, for free on Patreon. The announcement is circulating among indie gaming communities, with the developer promoting the title as an accessible horror experience themed around office life and corporate culture.
- 6Sammy delighted by West Indies T20 progressโSammy elated with West Indies T20 progress Jamaica Observer https://www. jamaicaobserver.com/2026/10/19 /sammy-elated-we
West Indies coach Darren Sammy says he is elated with the team's progress in Twenty20 cricket, according to the Jamaica Observer. The former World Cup-winning captain's upbeat assessment has drawn attention among cricket fans in Jamaica and across the Caribbean, who are watching how the regional side develops ahead of upcoming T20 commitments.
- 7AI tools hit indie game developers hardest, developer arguesโI think a big reason there's a large gap in # gamedev reaction to # AI is because so far it mostly penalizes small/indie
A game developer writing online argues that the games industry's divided response to AI comes down to studio size: large studios are protected by copyrighted intellectual property and legal teams, while small and indie studios depend on original high concepts that are far easier for others to replicate quickly using AI tools. The observation has drawn agreement in game development circles, where concerns about AI-enabled copying of indie ideas are a growing talking point.
- 8Wave of Needle In A Haystack clones sparks code theft claimsโEndless pile of Needle In Haystack games begins to emerge, as viral hit imitator's devs claim their code was nicked by a
A viral hit indie game is spawning a flood of imitators, and one copycat's developers are now accusing another clone of stealing their source code, allegedly built with the help of generative AI. The dispute is drawing attention to how quickly cheap clones of trending games appear and how hard it is to police copied code.
- 9Sammy pleased with Windies' T20I progressโSammy pleased with Windiesโ T20I progress Jamaica Gleaner http:// jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sp orts/20261019/sammy-ple
West Indies coach Daren Sammy says he is pleased with the team's progress in T20 international cricket, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. The comments point to growing confidence in the squad's development in the shortest format as the Windies continue building toward future tournaments.
- 10
Five-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou set the fastest time in an Indy NXT test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, driving the development series car for the first time. The session gave teams a read on the current car around the circuit, and the Spaniard's immediate pace drew attention from fans and commentators alike.
- 11Indie developer promotes handcrafted game ahead of Steam Next FestโIn the face of the slop tsunami for the upcoming # steam next fest why not support an up and coming # developer who # ha
Ahead of the upcoming Steam Next Fest, an independent developer is encouraging players to skip the flood of low-effort AI-generated releases and support a small studio instead. The game, Ninja Cat: Remewstered, was built entirely by hand, including a custom engine, graphics and music, with versions available for Pico-8, Android and MonoGame.
- 12
The developer behind Decker, a free multimedia authoring tool inspired by HyperCard, has published a retrospective marking four years of the project. The post reflects on the software's evolution, its community, and lessons learned building a creative computing platform. Readers on Hacker News are engaging with the milestone, sharing appreciation for the niche project.
- 13Builders Trade Free Promotion in Weekly Startup ThreadโFree exposure Wednesday, Drop your project below. # BuildInPublic # Startups # IndieHackers
A recurring call inviting entrepreneurs and indie developers to share their projects for free exposure is circulating among startup communities. Participants drop links to their products in the replies, hoping to gain visibility, early users, and feedback without spending on marketing. It reflects the broader build-in-public trend, where founders openly share work in progress to grow an audience.
- 14Indie cyberpunk game Neofeud drawing praise for its gritty artโผ"(Neofeud) is all about the grungy digital sidewalk art, the exhaustively detailed ideas, the cyberpunk lore... so good
Developer Silverspook Games is sharing critical praise for Neofeud, highlighting a reviewer's description of the game's "grungy digital sidewalk art," densely detailed ideas and cyberpunk lore. The quote points to Neofeud 2 on Steam, where players are celebrating the sequel's expressive, hand-crafted, deliberately rough visual style as a standout among independently made cyberpunk adventures.
- 15Moonlighter Studio Digital Sun Is Hiring an Environment ArtistโผMoonlighter Developer Digital Sun Is Hiring an Environment Artist
Digital Sun, the Spanish studio behind the action-RPG Moonlighter, has opened a job listing for an environment artist. The posting signals the team is building its art pipeline for future projects, though the studio has not said what game the new hire would work on. Fans of the indie hit are keeping an eye on the developer's next move.
- 16Players praise The Gated Citadel demo in Next FestโผI explored 'The Gated Citadel' by Pontacatat! I genuinely was amazed at the sheer creativity. A tad on the longer side,
The Gated Citadel, an indie game by developer Pontacatat, is drawing attention during the Steam Next Fest, where a free demo lets players explore its temple setting. Early players are praising the game's creativity and exploration, though some note it runs a bit long, saying they enjoyed every minute of the experience.
- 17New Hand-Drawn Post-Apocalyptic Deckbuilder Inspired by Japanese ArtโผMaking Hand-Drawn Post-Apocalyptic Deckbuilder Based on Japanese Art
A new indie game is in development: a deckbuilder set in a post-apocalyptic world, with all art drawn by hand in a style based on traditional Japanese art. The project is being shared with players and game art communities, drawing attention for its unusual combination of ruined-future themes with classic Japanese visual influences, a distinctive look that sets it apart from other games in the card-battler genre.
- 18Indie sci-fi adventure Neofeud 2 launches on SteamโAn ex-robo-marine and a rebel hacker struggle against CEO-King trillionaires & an empire on its last legs, in Neofeud 2,
The indie developer behind Neofeud has released a sequel, Neofeud 2, a sci-fi adventure game in which an ex-robo-marine and a rebel hacker fight against trillionaire CEO-kings and a crumbling empire. The game is available on Steam and blends cyberpunk storytelling with retro adventure and visual novel elements.
- 19Game developers highlight free open-source tools for hobby projectsโThere is # foss or # opensource software or tool for just about every game development need I have come across in my hob
A game development hobbyist says free and open-source software exists for nearly every game development need encountered so far, adding that these tools are straightforward and easy to get started with, and offer meaningful alternatives to big commercial packages. The comment reflects a wider push in indie and hobbyist circles toward open-source engines, art tools and asset pipelines over paid software subscriptions.
- 20Teoaria, a browser-based turn-based game, launchesโผTeoaria a Browser turn based game i was realeasing if you like to check it out there is more info about it at https:// v
A developer has released Teoaria, a browser-based turn-based game, and is inviting players to try it out. The game is described as a turn-based RPG with minimal tech and music elements, and further details are available on its official site. Early response appears limited so far, with the announcement spreading mainly through gaming and indie game communities.
- 21Indie creature collector Beanlings Wildlands seeks early testersโIndie Developer Spotlight: Beanlings Wildlands! ๐พโ๏ธ 'Catch wild Beanlings, battle in fair leagues.' The team behind Bean
The team behind Beanlings Wildlands, a pixel art creature collector, has opened a free browser prototype of the game. The project lets players catch wild Beanlings and battle in leagues, and the developers are looking for early testers to try it out and give feedback as development continues.
- 22Indie developers hesitant to show game demos over AI copying fearsโผhttps://www. wacoca.com/games/1486827/ ใคใณใใฃใฒใผใ ้็บ่ ใไฝ้จ็ใไบๅๅ็ปใฎๅ ฌ้ใใใใใใ็็ฑใฏใAIใงใใใซๆจกๅฃใฒใผใ ใไฝใใใใใใ | Gadget Gate # # GAMING # Ai
Indie game developers are increasingly reluctant to release playable demos or teaser trailers, saying generative AI can now produce imitation games almost immediately after a concept becomes public. The concern, highlighted in a report by Gadget Gate, is that small studios without legal resources could see their ideas copied before their full game ships, changing how developers promote upcoming titles.
- 23Behind-the-scenes look at indie game Creatures Like UsโA little behind the scenes for Creatures Like Us! # indiegame # lgbt # gaming # furry # punk
Developer Circle A Studios has shared a behind-the-scenes update on its in-development indie game Creatures Like Us. The game is being pitched around themes of identity, with the studio tagging it as an indie, LGBT, furry and punk project within the gaming community. Few details are given beyond the teaser itself, but it signals ongoing development work.
- 24MECCHA LIAR launches on Steam for $3.59โMECCHA LIAR - New on Steam! Steam: https:// store.steampowered.com/app/508 1300 $3.59 # gaming # games # steam
The indie game MECCHA LIAR is now available on Steam, priced at $3.59. The release is being promoted through short microtrailers shared with gaming audiences, highlighting its low price point and availability on the storefront. Details about the game's developer, genre and reception remain limited so far.
- 25Indie devs hesitant to share demos fearing AI clonesโผใคใณใใฃใฒใผใ ้็บ่ ใไฝ้จ็ใไบๅๅ็ปใฎๅ ฌ้ใใใใใใ็็ฑใฏใAIใงใใใซๆจกๅฃใฒใผใ ใไฝใใใใใใ | Gadget Gate https://www. playing-games.com/1120085/ # AirPods # An
Indie game developers are reportedly holding back from releasing playable demos and trailer videos, citing concerns that generative AI tools could be used to quickly produce imitation versions of their games. The concern highlights growing unease among small studios that early exposure of their ideas may allow others, or AI itself, to replicate and ship similar games faster than the original creators can.
- 26Indie Dev Adds Startup Fundraising Mission to GTA San Andreas Using AIโIndie Dev Adds Startup Fundraising Mission to GTA San Andreas with AI
An indie developer has created a mod for GTA: San Andreas that adds a new mission about startup fundraising, using AI tools to build it. Players can experience pitching to investors inside the classic game world. The project is drawing attention online, with people debating how AI is changing game modding and what it means for fan-made content.
- 27Indie game mechanic turns slide-jump spamming into styleโpress down + jump to slide. jump again to jump cancel it. the more you spam this the cooler you are (ignore that the lev
An independent game developer is showing off a movement mechanic where players press down plus jump to slide, then jump again to cancel it into a jump. The joke going around is that the more you spam the slide-jump cancel, the cooler you look. The developer admits the test level is nothing but black squares, but the mechanic itself is what has people talking.
- 28PHP security scare leaves static site owners unbotheredโWhen there is a major # php # security issue going on but your site is just # html and # css . https:// readbeanicecream
A web developer running a static HTML and CSS site is publicly shrugging off a major PHP security issue making the rounds, since their site uses no PHP at all. The post is being shared in small web and indie web circles, where static sites are often praised as a safer, simpler alternative to dynamic server-side code during such vulnerabilities.
- 29Splashess launches on Steam for $2.99โSPLACHESS - New on Steam! Steam: https:// store.steampowered.com/app/535 2620 $2.99 # gaming # games # steam
A new indie game called Splashess is now available on Steam, priced at $2.99. The release is being promoted through gaming channels with a short microtrailer, though there is little other information about gameplay or reception so far.
- 30Moonlighter developer delays playtest fearing AI clonesโ๐ฐ Moonlighter dev delays Steam playtest for its "Tower Defensevania" ReVamp over concerns that AI copycats might clone i
Digital Sun, the Spanish indie studio behind Moonlighter and Cataclismo, has delayed a planned Steam playtest for its upcoming game ReVamp, a self-described "Tower Defensevania". The studio says it is holding back the public test over fears that AI-assisted copycats could clone the game's concept before it officially launches. The decision highlights growing anxiety among smaller developers that generative AI lets imitators reproduce original ideas faster than ever.
- 31Builders invited to share their projects for visibilityโNeed more eyes on your project? Drop what you're building. ๐ # BuildInPublic # Startups # IndieHackers
A call for makers and startup founders to share what they are currently building has circulated on Mastodon, inviting replies under hashtags like BuildInPublic, Startups and IndieHackers. The prompt taps into the build-in-public community, where independent developers and entrepreneurs post progress and seek feedback, early users and visibility for their side projects and early-stage products.
- 32Stick Run game creator reportedly died by suicide on livestreamโผStick Run game creator appeared to take his own life on Twitch
The creator of the browser game Stick Run reportedly died by suicide during a broadcast on Twitch, according to a report by BNO News. The death of the game's developer has drawn attention across the gaming community, with discussion focusing on the circumstances and the fact that it allegedly occurred live on the streaming platform.
- 33Indie developer ships five releases in a single monthโ๐ Released 5 times this month, slow down you workaholic ๐ # indiedev # webdev # firefox # opensource # buildinpublic
An independent developer has released updates five times within one month for an open-source project related to Firefox and web development. The announcement was shared with a joking note about working too hard, prompting the build-in-public community to react to the rapid shipping pace.
- 34KAPLAY teams up with WaveDash for easy web game launchesโWant to launch a web game easily? Multiplayer and achievements support with native web capabilities are already here wit
The open-source KAPLAY game engine now integrates with WaveDash, a platform offering multiplayer and achievements support through native web capabilities. Developers can launch browser games more easily using the combined tools, with documentation available. The announcement is drawing attention from the indie game development community.
- 35Developer releases first game, an audio-only train simโWell, I did it โ I made my first game! Highball Express: you're the conductor of a cross-country passenger train on the
An independent developer has released a test version of their first game, Highball Express, in which players act as conductor of a cross-country passenger train on the fictional Liberty Line. The game handles departure checks, blizzards, breakdowns and unruly passengers, and plays entirely through sound, with a full app store release planned.
- 36Neofeud 2 draws praise as a passion-fuelled indie sequelโผ"Neofeud 2 has the diamond-in-the-rough sauce the original had, expanded into a full banquet by someone who cares a whol
Neofeud 2, the cyberpunk adventure game by indie developer Silver Spook Games, is winning warm reviews from players. One Steam reviewer describes it as having the same diamond-in-the-rough charm as the original Neofeud, expanded into a fuller experience by a creator who clearly cares about the art. Fans are highlighting its hand-crafted visuals and heartfelt storytelling, with the developer promoting the game as a work made without AI-generated art.
- 37Japanese Indie Game Fixes Clumsy Run Animation, Fans Prefer OriginalโClumsiness Is What Makes It Cute! Japanese Indie Game Fixes Protagonist's Running Animation, Only to Be Told โThe Old Ve
A Japanese indie game developer fixed what they saw as an awkward running animation for their game's protagonist, only to face backlash from players who preferred the clumsy original. Many fans argued the awkward movement gave the character charm and personality, with some saying the old version 'had more soul'. The debate highlights a recurring tension in game development between polish and character.
- 38ID@Xbox Reveals Wave of New Games and RemastersโNew on Tech Vast Gaming ID@Xbox Just Revealed a Wave of New Games and Remasters # gaming # videogames # gameindustry # g
Microsoft's ID@Xbox programme has announced a new batch of independent games and remasters coming to Xbox platforms. The showcase highlights upcoming indie titles alongside updated versions of older games, continuing the programme's role as a pipeline for smaller developers reaching Xbox audiences. Gaming communities are sharing the list of revealed titles and discussing which announcements stand out.
- 39Indie developer shares update on their game projectโผUpdate from my Reddit :3 # indiedev # gamedev # art # digitalArt # technology # tech # gaming # games
An indie game developer has posted an update about their ongoing project, touching on game development, artwork and digital art. The short message offers no details on the game itself, its title or its release timeline, and there is little information available about what the update contains.
- 40WOIM launches on Steam for $8.49โWOIM - New on Steam! Steam: https:// store.steampowered.com/app/427 2020 $8.49 # gaming # games # steam
The indie game WOIM has been released on Steam, priced at $8.49. The announcement is circulating among gaming communities, where players are picking up on the new store listing. Details about the game's genre, developer and reception remain limited, so it is unclear how the launch is being received so far.