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by embedding-shape 154 days ago
> Tell that to the indie developers that launched games alongside the surprise release of Silksong.

Huh? Is your argument that it would be bad for Silksong to surprise release next to GTA? Or that indie developers should have planned around the surprise release of Silksong? I really don't understand what argument you're trying to make here.
3 comments
fooqux 154 days ago
It sounded like you were saying other games launching at the same time yours does matters less than people think.

My argument was that other releases can and do impact sales.

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cdirkx 154 days ago
The argument is that Silksong will completely absorb any potential market for you new indie game had during that period. People will be too busy playing another game, leading to poor numbers during launch. It's hard to recover from that.
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embedding-shape 154 days ago
Right, but what does that have to do with "every other developer has to time their release and development around GTA 6", especially considering that Silksongs release was a surprise, so what exactly could you even plan for?

My original point that there is so many things at play, GTA 6 launch date, which may move, together with other things outside of your control, that "planning your release and development around GTA 6" doesn't make sense, unless you're a big company doing a AAA release.

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butlike 154 days ago
This implies Silksong was the stronger title, either in gameplay, marketing; or both. If the indie game was better, people would be playing that over Silksong. Isn't this just market forces applied to games?
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walletdrainer 154 days ago
That’s the point. If possible, you don’t want to release your game at the same time as a much stronger title.
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butlike 153 days ago
I'm saying that's defeatist to your game. Have faith yours is the stronger title
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walletdrainer 150 days ago
You should also be mindful that there are marketing budgets you can’t outcompete.

Even if your game is better, you’ll probably make much more money if you don’t time it to launch at the same time as the new GTA

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xmodem 154 days ago
The point is that no indie dev was able to plan around the surprise release of Silksong, precisely because it was a surprise.
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embedding-shape 154 days ago
Ah, so then just an agreement with "Matters way less than people think" in the end?
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xmodem 154 days ago
No.

A lot of devs delayed their launches:

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/silksong-release-date-has-...

Those that didn't or couldn't think it hurt them pretty badly:

https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/hell-is-us-boss-slams-silkson...

In general I think you are probably right. But there are definitely exceptions and this is one of them.

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