Meet the indie studios funding other indie studios
Among Us developer Innersloth is using the extraordinary financial success of its breakout hit to fund other independent video game studios and developers. Among Us launched quietly in 2018 but didn’t achieve significant traction until 2020, when it became a global phenomenon, reaching 500 million monthly active players by November of that year. The game’s free-to-play mobile model, combined with its $5 price on Steam and strong performance on Nintendo Switch, generated substantial revenue for Innersloth.
Now flush with capital from Among Us’s success, Innersloth is channeling those profits into supporting the broader indie game development community by funding other independent studios. This reflects a growing trend among successful indie developers who are using their newfound wealth to invest in the next generation of independent games, creating a positive feedback loop within the indie development ecosystem. Rather than viewing other indie creators as competition, these successful teams recognize an opportunity to strengthen the overall industry while diversifying their own portfolio.
This funding approach differs markedly from traditional publisher relationships and demonstrates how successful indie developers can effectively become funders and supporters of emerging talent within their community.