Can you make a living as an indie game developer?

Can you make a living as an indie game developer?

$10-100k – The Indie – This is the core of indies – they’ve made some money out of their games, but typically not enough to make this a full-time career. $100k-1m – The Full-timer – These indies have made enough with their game(s) that they can make it as a full-time indie developer.

How many hours do indie game developers work?

Indie game developers are often more casual in the number of hours they invest into their game development projects. It ranges from a few hours per week in hobbyists to 100 hours per week required late in projects for some AAA studios.

How do you survive an indie dev?

How to Survive As An Indie Game Developer

1. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU KNOW. This can be applicable in multiple ways.
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE. This sounds cliché, but starting with too large of a scope is one of the most overlooked mistakes that you can find yourself entangled in.
3. KNOW WHEN TO GIVE UP.
4. REACH OUT.

How much do successful indie game developers make?

Indie Game Developer Salary

How much does an average indie game make?

According to research by analytics platform VG Insights that studied 21,000 indie games on Steam, half of all released self-published options do not receive more than $4,000 in revenue. They do not even cover the resources spent on their creation. About 25% of indie games have earned about $25,000 in their lifetime.

Is being a game developer FUN?

It’s very unusual for real-world jobs to be identified with fun and excitement, but a career in game design is one of the rare few. Sheer enjoyment of the day-to-day aspects of the job isn’t the whole story—game designers are part of an ever-evolving industry that’s constantly presenting new challenges and rewards.

How many indie games are successful?

70% of all indie games are commercial failures. Of the 30% that are considered successful, only 7% of those games will generate enough revenue to fund a second project.

How much does a AAA Game Developer make?

According to Glassdoor the national average salary for a Video Game Developer is $83,739. The national average salary range is about $52k to $127k. The national average for Junior Game Developer salaries is $71,724.

Is indie game development difficult?

It’s always harder than you think it will be. Even if you already think it will be hard. It takes a lot of courage to take the plunge into becoming indie, and even more passion and drive to make it work. Yet however tough you think it will be, you cannot prepare yourself for every eventuality.

Why are indie games so hard?

Difficulty is just an aspect of this, pitching in its efforts to achieving such an experience; it’s not the sole reason a game exists. That is, an incredibly difficult indie game is difficult because it needs to be to satisfy an artistic means to an end; when done right, it’s not the end itself.

Are indie games profitable?

Indie games industry in numbers Over 2/3 of the games don’t cross $10,000 in life time earnings. However, the top 1/3 of the indie games are doing pretty well. Almost every 1 in 5 indie games makes more than $50,000. Still, this might not mean the game is profitable or a good investment.

What percentage of indie games are successful?

Is being a game developer stressful?

Eric Blomquist, founder and game director for Enlightened Games, describes the life of a video game developer as complicated and stressful, with a problematic work-life balance. “When you’re working on games, it’s always more satisfying,” he said. “It comes from the heart.

Are game developers in demand 2022?

Worldwide, Game Developers are in high demand, commanding impressive salaries. Game development is an attractive career path for many, especially for those that enjoy gaming.

What is the most sold indie game?

15 Indie Games That Became Major Success Stories

• 8 Shovel Knight.
• 7 Terraria.
• 6 Stardew Valley.
• 5 Celeste.
• 4 Hollow Knight.
• 3 Rocket League.
• 2 Undertale.
• 1 Minecraft.

Is game Dev harder than web dev?

In terms of size, the web and game industries are quite similar. In terms of complexity and required skills, the games industry wins. This comes with a downside, though, as game programmers often need many hours to debug a game because it’s so complicated.