How much money do indie game devs make?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $161,500 and as low as $13,000, the majority of Indie Game Developer salaries currently range between $30,500 (25th percentile) to $113,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $140,500 annually across the United States.
Do indie game developers make a lot of money?
A typical (median) indie game makes about $13k. Top 25\% of indie games make over $44k. Top 15\% make over $108k.
How much does an indie game cost to make?
If I had to answer that question right away, I would say that the production of an independent video game costs, roughly speaking, between $1,000 and $10,000,000, so between one month and six years of development. Obviously, the cost will depend on the size of the project and therefore the development time.
How much money will my first indie game make?
If by “earn” you mean gross revenues, the average indie game on Steam sells 2000 – 5000 units. If we assume $10 retail price, and take out Steam’s 30\% cut, that’s gross revenue of $14,000 to $35,000.
Why do indie games fail?
The main reasons indie games fail are over saturation and the lack of marketing. With so many marketing strategies out there, gaming studios have to adapt to the one that suits their game the most. Most of the times the marketing falls short for a game, making the game a tough sell.
How do I sell my indie game?
3 ways to sell your indie games
- Sell via platforms for gamers. Some of the most popular distribution platforms include Steam, Desura, and GOG.
- Sell to business. As opposed to gamer’s distribution platforms, developers can also sell their games to wholesale and retail businesses.
- Sell via your own website.
How many people does it take to make an indie game?
These are kind of individual entrepreneurs in the gaming industry. Typically, indie studios are made up of just a few people. Most often, their number does not exceed 10 experts. There are also indie developers who make games alone.
How long does it take to develop indie game?
In most cases, big budget games will take anywhere from three to five years to develop. Mobile games take a few months to develop whereas indie games can take from a few months to years.
How much should I sell my indie game for?
When looking at 2 of the most popular price tags for indie games – $4.99 and $9.99, a developer should at least consider the possibility of pricing the game at $14.99 or $19.99. You can sell half the copies and still make more money when you price them at $19.99 rather than $9.99.
How hard is it to make indie games?
To answer to your question, this is very difficult. It’s not any difficulty in being a game developer. Create few projects, publish them on many sites and you’re done! “Beware of the another game developer!
How do you make an indie game successful?
What makes an indie game successful?
- Graphics & design are a minimum requirement.
- Gameplay & story matters, but only up to a point.
- Top games are better rated.
- Some genres are more successful than others.
- Low prices don’t lead to success.
- Accessibility is important.
- If you’re doing one thing right, make it marketing.
How much do indie games make on average?
These games never generate enough revenue to cover the development time and other costs. An average indie game makes $3,947 (this is actually median, average is not a good measure as it’s significantly distorted by top earners). Over 2/3 of the games don’t cross $10,000 in life time earnings.
Why do large indie studios make up roughly 80\% of indie sales?
The large indie studios make up roughly 80\%+ of indie sales because when it comes to games, name recognition is king. You can get lucky with a great game on your own, but it’s against the odds. A great game and a recognized good publisher will help you over the rainbow. Dwayne is in hot water for his latest comments.
How much money do Steam games make on average?
Steam game revenue estimates Over 50\% of indie games never make more than $4,000. These games never generate enough revenue to cover the development time and other costs. An average indie game makes $3,947 (this is actually median, average is not a good measure as it’s significantly distorted by top earners).
How do game developers make money from their games?
Sales: Selling their game, per copy. Or selling the rights to their game. Ads: Advertisements placed in game, on their website, etc. Admob, Adsense, etc. In-App purchases: Mainly mobile apps, in app purchases can be character upgrades, xp bonuses, etc. Dontations: Releasing their game for free, and asking for donations.