The Role of Crowdfunding in Video Game Development

Crowdfunding has become a significant tool in video game development. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter help game developers find sufficient funding to bring their ideas to life. The best thing about crowdfunding is an opportunity to get fans engaged in the creative process. This tool has contributed to numerous success stories in the gaming industry. While crowdfunded games are not directly available for betting, they have good potential to join the esports industry widely covered at GGBet. For now, we will cover the revolutionary impact crowdfunding has on game development.

How Crowdfunding Works in Video Game Development

Crowdfunding platforms help independent game developers receive funding for their projects. So-called backers can contribute money to their projects in exchange for rewards, such as early access to the game, exclusive in-game features, or even game credits. In some cases, the campaign works in the all-or-nothing format. If developers don’t find sufficient funding by the end of the campaign, they get no money at all. This encourages developers to engage with their potential backers regularly and inform them about the game progress.

The success of crowdfunding in the gaming industry also depends on the sense of community it creates. When starting their campaign, developers can gather valuable feedback and create noise around the game. They can do a lot of work on their own, without publishers and investors.

Success Stories of Crowdfunded Games

Crowdfunding has seen a great number of success stories. We’ll cover a few popular video games based on this development model.

Broken Age

In 2012, Tim Schafer and his team launched a Kickstarter campaign for their point-and-click adventure game, Broken Age. They managed to raise $3.3 million from 87,000 donors within eight hours. Around 47,000 donors invested to get the basic $15 package, which activated the complete access to the game. Over 100 donors invested more than $1,000 to the game, with 4 donors investing $10,000. Special perks included:

Lunch with the creative team;
Mini portraits of donors themselves from the game visual designers;
Large pieces of artwork integrated in the game, etc.

Tim Schafer and his team got creative with their rewards, which brought the positive outcome. Since then, Double Fine Adventure has become one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in the gaming industry.

Shenmue 3

Shenmue 3 is a high-budget indie game, which happens to be as good as the first two. After years of public requests, Yu Suzuki opened the campaign for financing the third installment in Kickstarter. The game developer planned to raise $2 million, but donors exceeded his expectations by donating over $6.3 million. That was the biggest video game campaign on the platform at that moment.

Shenmue 3 was successful due to its visual concept, bringing out the deep nostalgia. Fans of the series were excited to see the new installment. So the crowdfunding project demonstrated the power of the fanbase.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a crowdfunded action game developed by ArtPlay and produced by Koji Igarashi. Launched in 2015 on Kickstarter, the business campaign planned to raise $500,000 but collected over $5 million from over 64,000 donors. The game was inspired by the Metroidvania genre, offering a mix of adventure and fight.

The campaign posted a standout video on Kickstarter, which attracted a great number of donors. The video explained the studios vision, provoked emotion, and told a great story, encouraging long-time fans and new investors. Launched in 2019, Bloodstained was praised for its design and atmosphere. Its crowdfunding success proved the power of fan support in the gaming industry.

Crowdfunding has transformed the concept of video game development. Platforms like Kickstarter serve as an alternative source of funding for indie developers and companies. The success stories of Broken Age, Shenmue 3, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night demonstrate the power of crowdfunding in the modern gaming industry. Developers must manage their projects to meet backers’ expectations. In the modern world of game development, crowdfunding remains a powerful tool used for creative purposes. New and experienced developers shouldn’t miss a great opportunity to bring their vision to life.