Tag: Indies
News PS5 Has Narrowed the Gap on Switch's Indie Game Sales, Says Shu Yoshida
"Some games sold better on PlayStation than PC"
Sony’s relationship with indie developers has had some ups-and-downs over the last ten-and-a-bit years. Many of you may recall during the PS4’s initial E3 press conference, the platform holder took the unprecedented opportunity to spotlight a bunch of indie games coming to the console. This was a...
Feature Attending G-EIGHT, the Indie Convention with an Area for Erotic Games
“We shouldn't shy away from it”
For an event still in its infancy, Taipei-based indie expo G-EIGHT immediately appears accomplished far beyond its years. Its sophomore effort – conducted on the Taipei Expo Park on a sunny weekend in early December – was bustling with enthusiastic attendees, all eager to test drive the latest efforts from...
Feature 30 PS5, PS4 Indie Games to Watch Out for in 2024
Indie-licious
Every year is filled to bursting with wonderful indie games, and it looks like 2024 will be no different. While the big-budget side of the industry is also firing on all cylinders, it's often the indie space where you'll find the most creative, diverse, and interesting stuff to play. If you're keen to learn a little more about what...
News PSVR2 Is Truly Next-Gen, And Indies Will Lead the Software Charge
"Meta has done a great job promoting the Quest"
Shuhei Yoshida, the current indies bigwig at PlayStation but formerly the head of first-party, was one of the biggest early evangelists of PSVR. It stands to reason, then, that the executive believes PSVR2 is “truly next-gen” – but don’t just take his word for it, basically the entire media has...
News PlayStation Boss Jim Ryan Demanded Firm Reinvigorate Interest in Indies
Identified overwhelming focus on AAA titles and insisted on change
For many PlayStation fans, president Jim Ryan has become a pantomime villain. Despite working his way up the corporate ladder for decades and playing a major role in the brand’s European dominance, many attribute the firm’s more recent PR failings directly to the CEO – and...
News Sony Strengthens Indie Bond by Loaning PS5 Devkits to Smaller Studios
Indie win
Sony’s goal is to provide the best place to play, but there are always bumps in the road. Last year, the company was taken to task for its treatment of indie developers, with many citing poor promotion of its games and an obnoxious certification process as reasons why they’d rather release elsewhere. To be fair to the firm, it’s...
News PlayStation Indies Evangelist Shuhei Yoshida to Speak at Asia-Pacific Game Summit This Week
One to keep an eye on
As the Taipei Game Show nears, Shuhei Yoshida will speak on 20th January as part of the Asia-Pacific Game Summit on PlayStation’s indies initiative. The former PlayStation Studios boss turned indies evangelist will appear as part of a session scheduled to premiere on YouTube. It’s unclear exactly what his involvement will...
Report How PlayStation Is Failing Indie Developers
PS Store sale exclusion, backend mishaps, and lacking support
As Sony focuses its first-party efforts on delivering a wide range of PlayStation 5 blockbusters, the company is starting to fail the independent developers that produce the vast majority of games available on the PS Store. Smaller teams are struggling to work out how to put their own...
News Sony Under Heavy Fire for Handling of Indies on PS Store
"I have no idea how to succeed on this platform"
It’s becoming a story as old as time, but Sony is once again under heavy fire for its handling of indie games on the PlayStation Store. Hiding behind the veil of ‘Platform X’, Iain Garner, the co-founder of publishing label Neon Doctrine, said that he’s “mad enough to burn some bridges”...
News Indies Benefit Big from PS5 Reveal
Sony event helps small games gain exposure
Sony curated an excellent selection of PlayStation 5 software for its recent reveal showcase, and it did a great job hand-picking some exciting indie titles to complement its tentpole AAA software. These games have seriously benefitted from the extra exposure, with Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ reveal trailer...
Talking Point Can PS5 Make Sony the King of Indie Games Again?
The small time
It’s a hazy memory these days, but once upon a time the PlayStation 4 was colloquially known as the IndieStation 4 among some video game enthusiasts. Sony would be the first to admit that it was somewhat slow bringing major blockbusters to its next-gen console, and it filled the gaps with exciting titles from smaller studios –...
News 'We've Always Been There with Indies' Says PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan
Refutes claims Sony's indie focus has slipped
At the beginning of PlayStation 4's life, Sony earned itself a reputation as a huge supporter of indie games and developers. This focus seems to have shifted somewhat over the course of the generation, as the platform holder pours more and more resources into its own blockbuster exclusives. We've seen...
News Indie Devs Are Finding Their Feet with Cheap Platinum Trophies
"A lot of people will buy it"
There’s no doubt that the PlayStation 4’s audience is changing, and indie developers are finding it harder than ever to ensure their games stand out against both AAA blockbusters and their many contemporaries. This is particularly problematic for new studios, who don’t have a major hit to their name or an existing...
Opinion Has Sony Really Fallen Out of Love with Indie Games?
A question of optics
Ever since PlayStation Europe chief Jim Ryan’s unfortunate choice of words on indie games, there’s been a spate of hot takes about how Sony’s abandoned the scene. It’s taken us at Push Square Towers by surprise, seeing as only a few months ago we were writing articles arguing against PlayStation Store curation. Y’see,...
News Sony's Snapped Up That Bad Ass Indie Devil May Cry Title
Who needs Dante?
Remember that awesome Devil May Cry-esque indie title that blew up on YouTube earlier in the year? Looks like Sony's snapped it up, as one-man maker noted on Twitter that he's "got support" from the platform holder and will be working on Lost Soul Aside with "some other devs". As a result, the release will be a timed exclusive for...
E3 2016 EA Unveils New Program To Help Foster Indie Talent
Indie apologists queue here
Perhaps the only surprise at EA's E3 press conference this morning was the firm's announcement of a new program to help support independent developers. Titled EA Originals, the plan is a response to the success of Unravel, and aims to foster talented and unique small developers. In a canned
Feature 10 Under the Radar PS4 Games to Look Out for in 2016
Sticking up for the little guy
Last year, we previewed 25 games that would make 2016 an excellent one for the PlayStation 4, including huge blockbusters like Final Fantasy XV, Mass Effect Andromeda, and The Last Guardian as well as a couple of smaller titles such as Firewatch and The Witness. While it gives a great picture of ju
Soapbox Why PS4's Indie Influx Isn't as Bad as You Think
Sam Brooke reckons you should embrace this imaginitive space
The new Instant Game Collection for PlayStation Plus has been revealed, and once again it contains many indie games. But many people in the PlayStation Nation (are we still called that? I hope not) are a little miffed about the selection – after all, PlayStation 4 players have to pod out...
News Sony Wants to Amplify Indie Scene in Japan
Bold goals
Indie games represent a gigantic part of the market in Europe and North America right now, but they're less popular in Japan. We're starting to see developers like Yu Suzuki, Keiji Inafune, and Koji Igarashi break away from big publishers in order to go it alone, but these examples are rare. Speaking at the BitSummit convention in Kyoto,...
Feature 15 Awesome PS4, Vita Indie Games That We Haven't Had Time to Tell You About Yet
Catch up
Not every indie game is amazing, but we very much appreciate the existence of the space. While this week has proven that blockbuster titles are not going anywhere – Grand Theft Auto V! Far Cry 4! LittleBigPlanet 3! Dragon Age: Inquisition! – we like to think of the smaller content as the palette cleansers that prepare you for your next...
Talking Point Is Indie Becoming a Defunct, Dirty Word?
Term worm
Indie is the video game equivalent of Marmite: a sector of the medium so divisive that it’s simultaneously culpable of both dismay and delight. The very website that you’re reading is evidence of that, but we’re not alone: scuffles and skirmishes more heated than the format wars themselves can be attributed to the increasingly taboo...
News Sony's Done a Great Job with Indies, Says Former Nintendo Man
Little and large
Dan Adelman knows a thing or two about indie games. The industry veteran previously spearheaded the launch of Microsoft’s wildly successful Xbox Live Arcade, before switching his attention to Nintendo’s digital push, where he secured a slew of top titles for the House of Mario’s machines, including World of Goo and the...
News Sony's Considering a Steam-Style Early Access Program, Says Adam Boyes
Let the games begin
It seems that Steam's famous Summer Sales may not be the only thing Sony's thinking about borrowing from the digital download service. In a recent interview, SCEA big-wig Adam Boyes suggested that the firm may be adopting an early access program. If implemented, it would allow studios to release unfinished games for purchase as a...
News Shuhei Yoshida Doesn't Understand People Who Don't Like Indie Games
Neither do we
If the last two E3s are anything to go by, Sony's continued efforts to court indie developers are paying off. What's more, the Japanese giant seems pretty chuffed with this outcome, as Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida stated in a recent interview. "Almost every week you see an indie game coming out digitally on PS4. Some of...
News Former Last Guardian Staffers Show Off Open-World Adventure Vane
Former Battlefield and Killzone developers involved, too
Two former The Last Guardian artists have splintered away from Team ICO and co-founded a new studio called Friend & Foe, and the company's first game looks a bit like a cross between Journey and Shadow of the Col
News Trio of Indie Titles Bring Experimental Escapades to PS4 and Vita
The dark, the fun, and the crazy
We all remember the indies on display at last year's E3 presser, but was this a long-term relationship or a one night stand? It seems that the platform holder wants to put a ring on its collaboration with smaller studios, as it's added a trio of new titles to the PlayStation 4's lineup. From the more traditional to...
News What Ever Happened to All of Those Indies from Last Year's E3 Press Conference?
Workin' day and night
In one of the most memorable moments from Sony's phenomenal E3 press conference last year, Adam Boyes took to the stage and demonstrated the Japanese giant's commitment to indie developers by showcasing nine titles for the PlayStation 4 and Vita. And now, on the eve of E3 2014, the platform holder has released a short video...
News PS4 or Not, Sony Will Foot the Bill for Indie Developers at TGS
Platform holder plays the good guy
As far as public relations stunts go, this is a corker: Sony has announced that it will foot the bill for indie developers to exhibit their wares at this year’s Tokyo Game Show – regardless of whether they’re bringing their games to a PlayStation platform or not. The move may seem a bit extravagant for the...
News Sony Wants PlayStation 4 to Be the Perfect Place for Indies
So do we
Sony's unflinching commitment to indie games on the PlayStation 4 is undoubtedly one of the ways that the firm has managed to so successfully capture the hearts, minds, and wallets of gamers worldwide. With a whole host of titles already adorning the console's storefront, and a bunch m
Feature Everything You Need to Know About PS4's Latest Crop of Content
It's raining games
Sony cemented its complete and utter domination of the indie space a long time ago, and that’s allowed it to approach the sector with a kind of affable swagger over the past few months. That arrogance was on display overnight, as it casually confirmed twelve new titles for the PlayStation 4 without any real hype or hyperbole...
Weirdness We're a Bit Jealous of This Xbox One Indie Game
The only way is 7-Up
Sony may have taken a huge lead in the indie arena, but Microsoft is fighting back with its atrociously named ID@Xbox initiative. As such, it seems that the PlayStation 4 will actually be missing out on one upcoming indie gem: Soda Drinker Pro. The swigging
Feature Eight Intriguing PS4 and Vita Indie Titles to Look Forward To
The current crop
Project Morpheus may have gobbled up the headlines at this year’s Game Developers Conference, but there were still plenty of inevitable PlayStation 4 and Vita indie announcements to scoff on the leftover scraps. Rather than bombard you with individual stories, we’ve opted to compile all of the biggest reveals in one big lighter...
News Sony's PS4 Indie Launch Parity Clause Is More Parody
See what you did there
Microsoft’s holding a gun to the heads of indie developers, forcing them to deploy their wares on the Xbox One at the same time as other systems or forget releasing them on the format at all. This means that smaller studios without the bandwidth to produce multiple versions of their titles at once may be forced to launch on...
News Xbox One's Heinous Launch Parity Clause Still Causing Problems for PlayStation Devs
Playing dirty
Microsoft may have been quick to react to the negative feedback pointed at most aspects of the Xbox One, but it’s refusing to budge on the launch parity clause that underlines its hastily implemented indie initiative. For those out of the loop, the manufacturer will not allow titles to appear on its system if they’ve already...
News Shuhei Yoshida Wants Western Indie Games to Be More Readily Available in Japan
Going global
Indie games have become an enormous part of the PlayStation brand. Whether it’s relatively big titles like Outlast or smaller timewasters like OlliOlli, there’s rarely a week that passes where Sony’s suite of systems don’t receive an independently developed release or two. However, a lot of this content stems from Western...
News Octodad: Dadliest Catch May Hook Up with PS4 in March
Reel good news
The release schedule for the PlayStation 4 may be more parched than the Sahara desert, but indie outfit Young Horses is aiming to rehydrate your optimism for the next generation system. In an interview with Polygon, the studio has confirmed that Octodad: Dadliest Catch – the bizarre low-budget adventure game that sees you attempting...
News Klei Entertainment Is Thinking About a Vita Port of Don't Starve
Never stop klei-ing
Are you starved for good PlayStation Vita games? Well, Klei Entertainment, the crafty Canadians behind Shank and Mark of the Ninja, have you covered. Or rather, it might have you covered. When asked by an eager fan on Twitter if survival sim Don't Starve
News How Microsoft's Hostile Indie Policies Could Impact PS4
Xbox One manufacturer forcing launch day parity
We’ve been holding off writing about Microsoft’s overdue Xbox One indie policies for a few days now, because this is something that really shouldn’t be particularly relevant on a PlayStation-centric site. There’s always wider competitive overlap that we look to explore, of course, but the...
News Indie Survival Horror Kodoku Sneaks onto PS4 and Vita in 2015
Not a maths puzzle
The preponderance of indie games on Sony consoles is arguably one of the platform holder's greatest strengths. We all remember that impressive spread at E3, and now we have yet another title to add to the ever growing list. Kodoku is a survival horror game developed by fledgling studio
News Terraria Tunnels onto PS Vita This Week in Europe
Off to work we go
Indie side-scrolling Minecraft-esque smash Terraria is set to start digging onto the PlayStation Vita this week, publisher 505 Games has announced. The title will scoop out its bucket and spade on 11th December in Europe, with a North American release set to rise out of the procedurally generated dirt a little later on 17th...
Go with the flOw
Before flower and Journey, there was flOw. Swimming onto the PlayStation 3 in 2007, this trailblazing title from thatgamecompany was one of several games that paved the way for the thriving indie scene found on consoles today. Six years later, it’s fitting that the release has washed up on the PlayStation 4 as part of its own...
News Hello Games' Hugely Ambitious No Man's Sky Explores the Sea and Stars
The final frontier
The only real danger in No Man's Sky is that developer Hello Games has lost its mind, as this looks wildly ambitious. The release — announced during the VGX Awards earlier this evening — hints at a massive open world in which you can start out swimming and then jump into a spacecraft and explore the stars. It's not exactly a...
Instant grassification
Originally swept onto the PlayStation 3 in 2009, flower soared away with a slew of critical acclaim that would set the benchmark for developer thatgamecompany’s successor Journey three years later. At its release, the floral indie favourite pushed boundaries by exploring the idea of what interactive entertainment can be, and...
News TowerFall Ascends on PS4 in Early 2014
Oooh, yeah
Former Ouya exclusive TowerFall is coming to the PlayStation 4 in early 2014, Canadian indie developer Matt Thorson has announced. The competitive platformer was revealed for the next generation console during Spike TV's big next generation launch event overnight, and was the cause of Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida's...
News Sony: Exclusives Are Just a Means for Manufacturers to Brag Louder
Little to gain in the indie space
Exclusivity has been a staple of the console business since its inception, but as part of a candid keynote at the IndieCade conference in Los Angeles this week, Sony’s vice president of publisher and developer relations Adam Boyes admitted that the practice isn’t always productive for platform holders or...
News Yoshida: Indie Games Will Ensure PS4 Eschews Content Drought
Sprinkling water into the well
Content droughts are common alongside any major platform launch. Publishers tend to target launch day as the optimal date to release their wares, and that often results in a shortage of software over the weeks – and, in particularly problematic cases, months – that ensue. Sony’s already attempted to compensate...
News The PS Vita Could Be Getting A Game About The Holocaust
Luc Bernard's Imagination is the Only Escape has caught Sony's eye
"I find modern war games to be highly distasteful," says games designer Luc Bernard, the man behind the PS Minis title Mecho Wars. "They teach players to kill, but not understand anything about why they're killing." Bernard is hoping to change that with his next game, Imagination is...
News Sony: Indie Drive Is Not Just an Angle, It's Truly the Strategy of PlayStation
Platform holder betting big on rising stars
Sony’s open approach to indie developers may have earned it a number of headlines over the past six months, but the company’s vice president of developer and publisher relations Adam Boyes has admitted that the strategy is not just a gimmick. Speaking with Game Informer, the likeable executive...
Feature 15 Fresh PS4, PS3, and Vita Titles That Should Be on Your Wishlist
Open the floodgates
Sony dropped an atomic bomb of indie announcements at GamesCom this week. The sheer number of titles confirmed for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita has been unprecedented over the past few days, as evidenced by the empty coffee jars and film of human filth that’s infected our office. The company backed small studios...
News So, Sony's Still Not Done with That Whole Indie Thing
More savings than you can shake a Move controller at
As the sun sets on one PlayStation Network promotion, the moon is rising on another. Just a week after the conclusion of the PlayStation Play initiative, the platform holder has announced PS Vita Summer Select – a month long celebration of delicious indie gaming goodness. Best of all, it means...
