What’s your studio structure look like? Do you work remotely, or have an office space? Everyone in the office. No exceptions.
What indie funding opportunities have been crucial for your studio since you launched? In the very beginning we funded our demo with our own money, an angel investor and a grant from the UK Games Fund. Since then, the UK Games Fund has awarded us two more grants, which in my view is an enormous credit to their judicious good sense!
What’s the biggest piece of advice you’d give to someone else that might want to go indie too? Have a game in mind, and if you don’t, then find a partner that does and start the journey together. If you start merely with the idea of “having a studio” then you’re already pursuing a false dream. The studio exists to make the game, so if you don’t have a game then you don’t have a reason to create your own studio. Secondly, don’t be afraid to fire people. You will make
terrible decisions, and it will take time for your company to “settle” into an identity and culture of its own. If you keep people on who don’t fit into that, or who actively oppose it, then you are just ruining it for everyone. Not just yourself, but the rest of your team, too. If you’re not the sort of person who can make decisions like that, then reconsider if you really want to be a leader or if you just like the sound of it.
Secret Mode is your publisher. Has that been the case since the start of development? What has that relationship there been like? In 2020 we were wholly acquired by Amplifier Games Invest (who are in turn owned by Embracer Group). They provided the initial funding for the studio and the game, and we really wouldn’t be where we are today without their investment.
In 2023, we bought Silent Games back from Amplifier
and so are independent again. At that time, Empyreal was still in active development and we certainly couldn’t have finished the game without a new partner, and that’s when we began talks with Secret Mode. The relationship has been fantastic; the top guys at
Secret Mode are very sharp and their team have thrown themselves behind the game. I cannot speak on their behalf, but we always got the impression they genuinely had a lot of faith in Empyreal. Things are always easier when you’re all pulling in the same direction, and both Silent Games and Secret Mode are doing everything we can to make Empyreal a success.
Would you recommend having a publisher in general? The obvious observation is that the game development model requires upfront investment because revenue is not generated for two to five years (or even longer). It’s not so much a recommendation as it is a simple truth. This probably comes across as terrible advice, but when
we were a new start-up, I would have pretty much taken any deal on the table just to get started on developing the game, as that’s all I wanted to do! So it depends on your situation and how much you can afford to be picky. I think it’s basically impossible to do it all alone – even crowdfunding creates stakeholders – so just accept that reality and find the best deals and partners you can.
You’ve just finished up Empyreal. What’s next? Something unexpected! I won’t rule anything out completely, but it’s very unlikely we would ever make a direct sequel, for example. In the same universe, yes … but more than just something with a 2 on it. We will do our best to surprise and entertain players for as long as we make games.
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