Games Lift: Nenad Slavujevic on Calculating Chaos

Nenad Slavujevic, a Hamburg-based solo developer and participant in Gamecity Hamburg's Games Lift Incubator, is profiled in this November 2023 piece as a founder with a carefully reasoned game concept and a clear business plan. His project, Chaos Royale, is an automatic top-down shooter with competitive multiplayer, blending the auto-shooter or "bullet heaven" style of Vampire Survivors with battle royale structure à la Fortnite and a touch of The Binding of Isaac. Slavujevic deliberately chose a proven concept that suits his strengths and goals rather than copying others, and he can articulate the core appeal: the power fantasy of growing nearly overpowering and eventually meeting opponents who have built themselves up in the same way.

The profile emphasizes sustainability as the driver behind the multiplayer focus. Slavujevic wants to avoid moving from title to title while barely recouping costs, and instead plans a live-service game supported over the long term by a studio rather than a solo effort. His background includes a bachelor's degree at HAW Hamburg, early work at a start-up, and time at indie studio Tiny Roar, where he programmed and supported mobile multiplayer games. Although competent at coding, he found it not fully fulfilling and sought greater responsibility.

Currently he handles the technical side alone while working with trusted freelancers, notably for art. The roadmap includes internal tests of a first playable version, a first hire early the following year, and approaches to mobile publishers if testing goes well. He also values the incubator's networking and advice, singling out Steffen Rühl's pitching workshop as crucial to improving his presentation. Having originally pitched a mobile-only title, he is now considering a PC version as well, showing openness to feedback and an understanding that a good idea does not guarantee success.