Innersloth co-founder warns devs: ’there are some very bad deals out there'
As the indie game development landscape evolves, a growing trend has emerged: successful independent developers are transitioning into publishers and funders themselves. Rather than keeping their success exclusive to internal projects, many studios have chosen to invest in and publish other developers’ games, creating expanded competition in the independent funding market.
However, this expansion has brought new challenges. An Innersloth co-founder has issued a warning to the development community about the terms being offered in these publishing deals, cautioning that “there are some very bad deals out there.” The warning suggests that developer-publishers, often inexperienced in formal contract negotiation, may be offering unfavorable or exploitative terms to studios seeking funding.
This cautionary message highlights the growing complexity of indie game publishing. While the rise of developer-funded publishers has generally expanded opportunities and improved deal competition in the indie space, it has also introduced significant variability in contract quality and fairness. Developers without formal publishing or legal expertise are now navigating term sheets and negotiations—areas where mistakes can have serious consequences for smaller studios. The warning underscores the importance of careful due diligence when evaluating publishing deals, as the industry grapples with ensuring these opportunities genuinely benefit independent creators rather than exploit them.