Comment by KennyBlanken
5 days ago
> With the popularity of indie games I wonder why publishers don’t just try and buy out hundreds of these small devs under their shop.
Because they don't have to. In most cases, to have a large successful game, developers need publishers. Publishers are who negotiate with Steam or Gog or EA. Publishers are who figure out in the in-game microtransaction economy. Publishers are who do all the promotional activities like getting famous streamers to play the game.
The gaming community never seems to understand this. Who they think of as "the devs" are often actually the publisher.
Its basically akin to the book industry then. Which again makes my question still stand. In books you have huge publishers yes but also some specifically catered to smaller market stuff like what an indie game dev shop might be like. They go on making their money without having to pull JK Rowling just having a smattering of these smaller authors and selling.