Many indie game companies are started by one or two people who have a great idea for a game and some programming skills. These companies often produce high-quality games, but they often don’t have the resources to promote them effectively. As a result, many of these games go largely unnoticed by the gaming public.

It’s estimated that about half of indie games on the famous video game selling platform, Steam, never made over $4,000, and only less than 5% ever made it over the one million mark.

The world of indie gaming is filled with challenges and crises. We’re here to help you handle these things so that you can make it to become a successful company.

Crisis 1: Loot Boxes

First, ask yourself this, does your game have loot boxes? Loot boxes have become a controversial topic in the gaming community, with many people feeling that they are a form of gambling. If your game has loot boxes, you may consider removing them, as they can hurt your game’s reputation and sales.

Moreover, you can be sued for it. Japan, China, the Netherlands, and Belgium have their laws regarding loot boxes. Most of them see it as a form of gambling and predatory practice that manipulates children and teenagers alike. Therefore, if your game has been released in these countries and has some loot box mechanics, you should review their laws beforehand to avoid getting sued.

Crisis 2: Piracy

Piracy is a massive issue for indie developers. If your game gets pirated, likely, you won’t see any profits from it. There are a few ways to combat piracy, but the most effective is ensuring your game is well-protected against pirates. You can do this by using anti-piracy measures like Denuvo or Steamworks.

A law protects your games from being pirated, but it’s tough to regulate it. Indie games are usually released in the worldwide market, and sadly, the small amount of money it makes isn’t enough for many companies to sue those who pirate them. So what’s the best thing you can do? Create free-to-play titles that can generate profit from consumer purchases.

Crisis 3: Equipment Malfunction

Equipment malfunction is relatively common among indie game companies. The most common issue is the development software, which can either malfunction or break entirely. This can set your company back months or even years. To avoid this, you can get insurance or upgrade your outdated equipment.

Various insurance policies cover equipment malfunction, and getting them is highly recommended. You can also create a high-performance PC for your employees if you need it. This way, the equipment is less likely to malfunction.

Crisis 4: Employee Issues

Employee issues are another common crisis that indie game companies face. The most common employee issue is with developers, who often leave companies due to creative differences or not being paid enough. To combat this, you should create a good working environment for your employees and offer them competitive salaries.

You can’t always prevent employee issues, but you can try to create a good working environment for your employees. This includes offering competitive salaries, providing good working conditions, and having an open-door policy where employees can voice their concerns.

Crisis 4: False Advertising

False advertising is another issue you may face as an indie game company. This happens when you mislead customers about your game’s features or quality. To avoid this, you should ensure that all of your marketing materials are accurate and truthful.

You should be transparent with your game’s features, quality, and the platforms it will be released on. Failing to do so can result in lost sales and a tarnished reputation.

Crisis 5: Financial difficulties

Financial difficulties are the most common crisis that indie game companies face. This is because most indie games don’t generate a lot of revenue, and they often have to rely on outside sources of funding. To combat this, you should try to get investment from venture capitalists or crowdfunding.

Venture capitalists are individuals or firms that invest in businesses, and they can provide you with the capital you need to grow your business. Crowdfunding is another option that allows you to raise money from the general public. Both of these options can be difficult to obtain, but they’re worth pursuing if you’re struggling financially.

Among these two, crowdfunding is the most common form of fund generation in video games. The two most popular platforms are Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Kickstarter is the more popular of the two, and it’s known for being very selective about the projects it chooses to fund. Indiegogo is less selective, but it has a higher failure rate.

You should take note of the policies that are found within these sites because if you do fail the project, you might not get your funds.

Overall, there are many potential crises that indie game companies face. The most common ones are financial difficulties, employee issues, and false advertising. To combat these issues, you should try to get investment from venture capitalists or crowdfunding. You should also create a good working environment for your employees and offer them competitive salaries. Finally, you should be transparent with your game’s features, its quality, and the platforms it will be released on. By taking these measures, you can help to avoid or mitigate the effects of these common crises.