Since mid-2023, the video game industry has faced a relentless wave of challenges, from layoffs at major studios like Epic Games to smaller teams struggling to stay afloat despite critical acclaim. These challenges have prompted many publishers to seek out alternative markets, however, Kepler Interactive stands out with its distinctive portfolio, remaining true to its original approach.
Amid this uncertainty, Kepler Interactive, a British publisher known for its unique portfolio, is doubling down on the traditional PC and console markets. With games like the driving survival title Pacific Drive, the soccer sim Rematch, the Metroid-inspired Ultros, and the upcoming French-inspired fantasy Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler is betting that unique, passion-driven games can still find an audience, even in a saturated marketplace.
Matthew Handrahan, Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager, acknowledges the “pretty frightening picture” painted by current market trends. However, he believes that the focus on older games’ popularity overshadows an important truth: a dedicated audience of players still actively seeks out new games.
“The relatively small percentage of people that buy new games, I do think actually buy quite a lot of new games each year,” Handrahan explained in a recent interview. While not every player will buy every game, Kepler’s strategy is to target different pockets of players with unique interests. The publisher’s bet is that even in tough times, there’s an audience for innovative and distinctive games.
Kepler’s publishing strategy relies heavily on what Handrahan calls a “gut feeling” approach. The team looks for games that excite them and that they believe will resonate with players. While budget and production viability are still considered, the emphasis is on passion and vision. Handrahan highlights the importance of “real specificity” in a game’s concept. For example, Sifu, Kepler’s martial arts action title, stood out because it aimed to emulate the style of Hong Kong action cinema, from the martial arts moves to the camera work and editing.
He points to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Pacific Drive as other examples of games with strong, specific visions. “It’s a case of starting with an experience they wanted to create and then working their way to the gameplay that’s going to deliver that,” he said. While Kepler champions unique visions, Handrahan acknowledges the importance of market realities. He cautions developers about oversaturated genres like Metroidvanias, first-person narrative games, and 2.5D side-scrollers, where success often depends on low budgets and small teams.
English (UK) 
Hrvatski