Mark of the Ninja

The Next Game Decision

Independent game studios frequently face existential risks by selecting new projects through reactive decision-making rather than structured strategic planning.

• Before deciding on a next project, studios must evaluate five practical constraints: existing contractual obligations, current revenue, transferable technical assets, team burnout levels, and creative direction.
• Review existing publishing contracts for restrictive clauses like rights of first negotiation or last refusal, which can limit future autonomy; if present, negotiate hard deadlines for publisher commitments to avoid being trapped.
• Data from Video Game Insights indicates that second games on Steam average $168,000 in revenue compared to $120,000 for debuts, a 40% increase, though only one in three studios successfully ships a second title.