Indie Game Devs Face Funding Drought as Game Pass and Epic Deals Dry Up

Indie developers at GDC 2024 have reported significant decreases in funding offers from Microsoft and Epic Games, impacting their ability to secure financial support for their games. The reduced offers come amidst economic challenges in the video game market and industry-wide cost-cutting measures. While exclusive deals with Epic Games Store can provide financial stability for some developers, the overall trend suggests a challenging landscape for indie studios reliant on these platforms. Despite ongoing challenges, both Game Pass and the Epic Games Store are making strides, with the latter preparing to launch on iOS in Europe and the former adding Diablo IV following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.