In the tumultuous landscape of the gaming industry, indie developers often face challenges when competing against major publishers. Recently, Stumbling Cat, an indie game studio, encountered such a hurdle with the release of their game, "Potions: A Curious Tale," on Steam. While the game initially showed promise by climbing the ranks in Steam's "new and trending" section, its momentum was disrupted by a surprise move from Electronic Arts (EA).

 

EA decided to launch a collection of its classic titles on Steam without prior announcement. This surprise release included renowned games like Populous, Dungeon Keeper, and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Although these were re-releases, each title secured its spot in the "new and trending" section, overshadowing newer releases like "Potions: A Curious Tale."

 

 

Renee Gittins, the lead developer at Stumbling Cat, expressed her frustration on social media, revealing how EA's unexpected move impacted her studio's sales estimates. The shadow drop of EA's titles directly affected the visibility and sales of "Potions: A Curious Tale," jeopardizing the studio's plans to port the game to consoles due to financial constraints.

 

Gittins highlighted the timing of EA's release as a critical factor, as the "new and trending" list on Steam is date-ranked. Since EA's games were released immediately after "Potions: A Curious Tale," they occupied higher positions on the list, pushing down newer titles like hers. The lack of announcements for EA's shadow drop left indie developers with no opportunity to plan their releases strategically to avoid such clashes.

 

This incident has sparked a broader debate on whether Steam should allow re-releases to dominate slots in the "new and trending" category, potentially disadvantaging indie developers who rely heavily on platform visibility to drive sales.

 

Despite the challenges, there's hope for "Potions: A Curious Tale" to overcome adversity. The game offers engaging gameplay, adorable art, and witty writing, making it a worthwhile experience for casual gamers. With a demo offering over two hours of free gameplay and a price point mindful of regional pricing differences, it serves as a genuine call to support the indie scene.

 

In the face of setbacks, indie developers like Stumbling Cat continue to persevere, showcasing their creativity and resilience in an industry dominated by giants like EA.