Mooneye Indies: Mooneye Studio Starts Publishing Label

Hamburg-based indie developer Mooneye Studios, creator of the exploration adventure Lost Ember, announced on May 10, 2021 that it is launching a publishing label called Mooneye Indies. The announcement, delivered as a Gamecity Hamburg news item with an interview of Mooneye CEO Tobias Graff, frames the move as a natural extension of the studio's success and award recognition, both national and international, following Lost Ember's release.

The label will concentrate on narrative-focused and wholesome smaller games, which Graff argues are often overlooked despite the care developers invest in them. The strategy leans on the studio's existing reputation and loyal community, and Graff says the team wanted to give that audience new releases rather than leave them waiting years. The idea originated during the Lost Ember Kickstarter, when indie developers and student groups repeatedly asked the team for marketing and development advice. Only after the game shipped did the studio have capacity to contact developers and confirm interest. The first title, Haven Park, was scheduled for release in August 2021.

Graff offers practical guidance on what makes a good indie game and a strong pitch. He recommends involving the community through development blogs and short update videos, and identifying the core essence of a game rather than attempting to do everything. For publishing pitches, Mooneye looks for developers who understand their audience, can explain why they chose particular features, and have a clear sense of what the game is and is not. Beyond showcasing features, the studio wants evidence that a team can carry a concept through to a finished, tonally coherent game.

The page also carries unrelated Gamecity Hamburg news items from 2026, including incubator and funding calls, showcase opportunities, and Hamburg-developed releases, which reflect the broader regional industry context but are not part of the announcement itself.