Indie Games Need Financial Support to Thrive

When I heard that Epic Games had let go of over 1,000 developers, I hoped indie studios would emerge as the saviors of the struggling gaming industry. Smaller teams could collaborate to craft innovative and captivating titles, drawing from both new and existing franchises to pave a brighter path forward. Sadly, many indie studios are grappling with the same funding and support challenges that larger studios face.

Take Ivy Road, for instance, which recently announced its closure. Founded by Davey Wreden of The Stanley Parable fame, the studio launched Wanderstop last year—a charming game about a fighter who farms and runs a tea shop to recover from burnout. Despite receiving positive reviews and a nomination for Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2025, Ivy Road couldn’t secure funding for its next project.

In a post on their website, Ivy Road shared that they had been working on a new title called Engine Angel. Early footage from Liz Caingcoy showcased an action game where players battle using their vehicles. It was a fresh idea, but ultimately, the studio couldn’t find the financial backing it needed. “It’s a particularly tough time for raising game funds, so while we weren’t necessarily surprised, we are disappointed that we won’t be able to bring Engine Angel to life together as a team,” Ivy Road stated.

As of March 31, the studio will close its doors, and its developers are now on the job hunt, much like those recently affected by layoffs at Epic Games.

While the shutdowns of developers like Bluepoint Games or Meta’s game studios can be attributed to the unpredictable nature of large corporations, Ivy Road’s fate highlights an industry that failed to support its next game. Indie studios are not shielded from the same issues that currently plague the AAA sector, even with a compelling pitch and a previous game that garnered award nominations.

As Ivy Road aptly noted, “making games is incredibly challenging work: it requires technical skills, emotional investment, financial investment, a whole lot of long hours, and a bit of luck and serendipitous timing thrown in.” Going indie doesn’t guarantee success, and without funding, these smaller projects can’t revitalize the industry. A shift is necessary if we want to see a more promising future for gaming.