Indie games have always had a problem with discoverability. They spike upwards when you start and then disappear quietly into the emptiness of the shop window. Indie.io, an independent games publisher and platform, wants to address this problem.
The company is launching Indie Pass, a subscription service designed exclusively for indie titles, for $6.99 per month. It goes live on April 13th and over 70 games are available to play on PC.
To put that price into perspective, Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate costs $30 per month. Indie Pass is just a fraction of that and focuses on a very specific type of game.
According to Jess Mitchell, Director of Growth at Indie.io, titles on the platform are typically solo player experiences, developed by small teams or solo developers, and offer a true artistic experience. Live service and massively multiplayer gaming are not part of the plan.
What else does Indie Pass offer?
For gamers, Indie Pass has a dedicated launcher and recommendation engine that tracks your engagement and playstyle. For example, it takes into account whether you prefer a controller or a keyboard, and even your region to show localized games for you.
Think of it as Steam’s algorithm, but based entirely on indie titles. The launch titles include the cozy farming simulation Echoes of the plum grovethe tactical role-playing game Dark deity series and the farm-based shooter Air bunniesand more are added regularly.
Why the Indie Pass is also a benefit for developers
For developers, the appeal lies in the discoverability and revenue from back catalogs. Indie Pass pays developers based on the time players spend in their game, following what Mitchell calls an egalitarian model where subscriber money follows player attention.
Most importantly, Indie Pass is non-exclusive, allowing studios to offer their games on other storefronts at the same time. “We take making developers successful very seriously,” Mitchell told GamesIndustry.biz. “Instead of just sticking with traditional publishing, we are looking to invest in solutions and ways that help our developers gain additional exposure.”
With over 20,000 titles reportedly available on Steam last year alone, it’s really hard to get noticed. Indie Pass won’t solve this problem overnight, but it’s a targeted, affordable bet on a community that deserves more attention.
