Secret Sauce co-founder and COO Sophie Atkin, Revolution founder and CEO Charles Cecil, and sport design guide Jakub Remiar share ideas on indies forward of PGC London 2026.
The precise definition of an indie is divisive, however many agree gamers are turning in the direction of these titles.
Keep Knowledgeable
Get Trade Information In Your Inbox…
Signal Up At this time
As 2026 begins, momentum within the indie video games scene seems set to rise even greater.
Whereas the query of what defines an indie could also be extra divisive than ever, accessibility of AI tech and instruments like Unity and Unreal have outlined one clear expectation: an indie revolution is coming.
Forward of their panel on the subject at Pocket Gamer Connects London (January nineteenth and twentieth), we converse with Secret Sauce co-founder and COO Sophie Atkin, Revolution founder and CEO Charles Cecil, and sport design guide Jakub Remiar.
They discover the evolving definition of an indie, why gamers is perhaps selecting them over triple-A experiences, and whether or not indies will develop their market share in 2026.
“I’m reminded of the seismic shift that came about 20 years in the past when Apple and Steam began providing digital distribution providers, and others quickly adopted,” says Cecil.
“Nearly all of gross sales quickly moved from retail, with its restricted shelf house, to digital with an successfully infinite shelf house.
“The demand for double-A video games written as ‘shelf fillers’, which had been dominated by corporations like THQ, one of many greatest international publishers at the moment, collapsed (as did THQ) as avid gamers migrated to both excessive manufacturing triple-A or progressive indie video games, double-A providing neither satisfactorily.
“That established order has just about held since then, however now we’re seeing one other seismic shift as avid gamers transfer from triple-A to indie.”
What’s an indie?
Cecil argues that the definition of an indie studio has by no means been clear. He considers Revolution an indie firm because it self-funds and self-publishes its video games with “absolute freedom and management”. However he recognises that many wouldn’t take into account Revolution an indie studio as a result of being nicely established.
He highlights Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developer Sandfall Interactive as one other instance – suggesting the studio earns indie standing by means of artistic management over its video games and having no vital funding.
Cecil argues: “The truth that their sport was later considerably funded by a writer, Kepler Interactive, is irrelevant.”
“I might describe this era as extra of a gaming artistic renaissance.”Sophie Atkin
In the meantime, Atkin presents three key standards that may outline an indie: studio independence, growth finances, or artstyle. Counter to Cecil’s perspective, she highlights how some shoppers may see having a writer as taking away indie standing.
She poses: “What in case you have a writer they usually carry on board devs for a selected talent set you lack?”
Monetary efficiency and staff sizes can additional muddy perspective and Atkin raises the query of whether or not an indie undertaking can really find yourself changing into a triple-A sport over time.
“Are you actually an indie in case you spend over $1 million on dev finances?” she asks. “What in case you crowdfunded it? Lots of people do not consider that buyers let you be classed as impartial both.”
“I’m reminded of the seismic shift that came about 20 years in the past when Apple and Steam began providing digital distribution providers, and others quickly adopted.”Charles Cecil
For the needs of our interview, Atkin defines an indie sport as one with a growth spend below seven figures.
Lastly, Remiar raises two contrasting instances: Balatro and Palworld. Whereas many would take into account each titles indies, Balatro was made by a solo developer and Palworld by “fairly a giant staff with a large finances”. Placing them in the identical basket is “complicated”, he argues.
Thus, Remiar shares a prediction for the evolving indie house: “I believe we’ll find yourself inside the similar rating because the A-system contained in the indie class, the place there will likely be greater finances indies and smaller finances indies and naturally these one-man wonders.”
Innovation, autonomy, and the financial system
No matter how our interviewees outline an indie sport or studio, all agree that gamers are turning in the direction of these titles.
“Are you actually an indie in case you spend over $1 million on dev finances?”Sophie Atkin
Remiar calls them “danger optimistic”, capable of break free from the triple-A mainstream. In the meantime, big-budget video games are extremely averse to danger, “which drastically decrease their innovation potential”; and whether or not a remake, remaster, or the newest iteration in a sequence, he says triple-A video games can develop into merely a “remix” of one thing that got here earlier than.
The consequence is that indie studios generally come out with novel experiences gamers “desperately” search, however Remiar doesn’t neglect to say “the infinite graveyard of failed indie titles” surrounding these hits.
Cecil shares an analogous sentiment, highlighting how indie devs can deal with “vibe” with the strengths of a small, passionate staff. By leveraging Unreal or Unity, they’ll create video games with excessive manufacturing worth, progressive gameplay, and enthusiastic groups.
Atkin takes a extra numerical method. She suggests the rise of indies isn’t as a result of gamers are turning away from triple-A, however quite there’s a better total shopper base as extra individuals come to play video games. Moreover, there are extra indie titles being launched than triple-A video games and she or he suggests gamers have gotten followers of indies early on.
“So, statistically I believe it is truthful that the starvation for gaming is reaching indie titles increasingly more.”
Value can be an vital issue. Atkin notes how “the financial system hurts proper now for almost everybody”, and indie video games are sometimes a extra reasonably priced different to triple-A experiences.
“With some sorts of indie titles it virtually looks like a race to the underside: you have got some entrepreneurs ensuring pricing sits beneath each Steam threshold (eg. video games below $5),” she explains. “It generally looks like cat and mouse with sport pricing.”
“Gamers are undoubtedly wanting on the worth per efficiency ratio of shopping for three stable indies versus one triple-A title that’s often a remix of the earlier model.”Jakub Remiar
Remiar additionally believes gamers are weighing up buying choices within the context of the world financial system. Video games will not be a utility, so avid gamers should be selective. He suggests: “Gamers are undoubtedly wanting on the worth per efficiency ratio of shopping for three stable indies versus one triple-A title that’s often a remix of the earlier model.”
And Cecil provides that triple-A video games want to extend their prices as gross sales stagnate, which solely “exacerbates the issue”.
Nonetheless, Atkin emphasises that folks aren’t turning to indies purely as a result of they’re a less expensive different, however quite as a result of their high quality is “getting higher and higher every year”.
The indie revolution
Getting into 2026, expectations for indie video games are broadly optimistic. Latest hits like Balatro, Silksong, Palworld, and Clair Obscur stand out as “nice video games”, however every had its personal trigger for fulfillment.
“If we knew precisely what went proper then we would all recreate it,” says Atkin, including The Drifter, Skate Story, and Absolum to the record of 2025 standouts.
Remiar provides Megabonk to that record, one other indie sport by a solo developer, highlighting how a title can turn out to be successful by means of deep understanding of system design quite than reinventing the wheel.
“Indies are extraordinarily hit-driven, subsequently we might have a dry yr or we might have a really bountiful yr, however total I’d guess a small enhance inside the 10% share,” Remiar predicts.
“I don’t count on indie to instantly take over the market this yr. I count on, hopefully, a gradual circulate of distinctive hits a minimum of two to a few every quarter with the ability to break by means of the noise and provide one thing not but available in the market.
“I’d not name it an indie revolution but – I believe that may come later with extra use of AI. However fundamentals are shifting the place small groups can obtain greater than massive company groups and are rather more environment friendly and agile,” he concludes.
Lastly, Atkin displays: “It’s been a tough few years for many publishers and builders within the indie house and it feels now rather more optimistic and thrilling as we step into 2026. We’re not fully out of the woods however I anticipate we’ll see some unbelievable content material popping out this yr and subsequent.
“If you happen to converse to any sport scout, they’ll inform you that their inbox is a hydra. Type out one electronic mail and two extra appear to pop up. I might describe this era as extra of a gaming artistic renaissance.”
Remiar, Atkin, and Cecil will debate what makes an indie at Pocket Gamer Connects London on January twentieth, anticipated to discover their impression on cellular, PC, and alternatives in disruption.
Tickets can be found now.
