Baby Steps
GameBy Bennett Foddy · Released Sep 23, 2025
Documents about Baby Steps
Launch Success on Steam: Are There Correlating Metrics?
The primary objective is to evaluate whether specific, measurable metrics can reliably predict the commercial success of video game launches on Steam.
- The 'follower to wishlist' multiplier on Steam correlates with launch success; a higher multiplier (meaning more wishlists per follower) generally indicates lower conversion rates for games.
- Wishlist conversion on Steam is highly variable, with a 10-20x range in performance between 'wishlists at launch' and 'sales at the end of Week 1', making it an unreliable standalone metric.
- Poor reviews significantly impact sales, with data suggesting a 2-5x drop in sales over time for games receiving mixed or negative feedback.
'Titanium Court' Receives Grand Prize at the 2026 IGF Awards
The 28th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards, held in conjunction with the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming in San Francisco, recognized the most innovative contributions to the global independent game development sector.
- The surreal strategy game Titanium Court, developed by AP Thomson and published by Fellow Traveller, won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize for Best Independent Game at the 2026 IGF Awards.
- AP Thomson is now a two-time Grand Prize winner, having previously contributed to the 2025 winning title, Consume Me.
- Titanium Court also received the Excellence in Design award for its integration of match-3 mechanics with tactical roguelike elements.
What Happened to VR Games in 2025?
The virtual reality gaming market experienced significant contraction and strategic shifts throughout 2025, characterized by widespread layoffs at major industry players like Meta’s Reality Labs and the closure of prominent first-party studios.
- The VR gaming market in 2025 shifted heavily toward free-to-play, social sandbox experiences, which now account for approximately 70% of user time on the Meta Quest platform.
- Premium, paid VR titles faced significant commercial failure in 2025, with only four VR-only titles on Steam managing to sell more than 100,000 copies.
- Top-grossing VR titles are currently dominated by established sandbox hits and evergreens, specifically Gorilla Tag, Animal Company, and Yeeps.
2026 Independent Games Festival Awards Finalists
The 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards finalists highlight the most significant achievements in the global indie development scene, focusing on innovation and creative excellence across various design categories.
- The title 'Baby Steps' leads the 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards with five total nominations, highlighting industry interest in physics-based movement and unconventional narrative design.
- The 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 11, 2026.
- The awards ceremony will be held as a central component of the GDC Festival of Gaming.
When Sequels Work: How Strange Antiquities Hit 100k Sales
The success of the occult puzzle game Strange Antiquities, which achieved over 100,000 units sold across Steam and Switch shortly after launch, serves as a case study for effective sequel development and franchise management.
- Strange Antiquities achieved over 100,000 units sold by converting 68% of its player base from the predecessor, Strange Horticulture.
- The title maintained high product quality with a 96% positive review rating on Steam, a 1.9% refund rate, and a median playtime exceeding seven hours.
- Platform performance skewed heavily toward PC, which accounted for 83% of total sales compared to 17% on the Nintendo Switch.
The Debrief: October 2025
The October 2025 industry update provides a comprehensive overview of significant business, regulatory, and demographic shifts within the global video game sector.
- U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have launched a formal inquiry into the acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, citing concerns over foreign influence and data security.
- Industry executives, including the CEO of Supercell, are actively lobbying against the EU’s Digital Fairness Act, claiming the proposed regulations on in-game spending and virtual currencies create excessive administrative burdens.
- Xbox Game Pass has implemented significant price increases, a move linked to the underperformance of major titles and broader instability in current subscription-based distribution models.
How Much Should We Freak Out About Silksong
The release of Hollow Knight: Silksong serves as a case study for indie developers regarding the perceived risks of launching games alongside major industry blockbusters.
- The release of a major title like Hollow Knight: Silksong does not significantly impact the sales of other indie games, as Steam's algorithm-driven visibility—such as the Discovery Queue and New & Trending lists—remains the primary driver of success.
- Only 7 games from the observed list rescheduled their launch dates to avoid the Silksong release, while 29 games with at least 400 followers maintained their original release dates.
- Leveraging a major industry event for marketing can be effective; developers who publicly addressed the Silksong release, such as the team behind Baby Steps, saw significant engagement, with their announcement video garnering 123,000 views.
Companies behind it
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