Galvanic Games, an independent Seattle-based game developer known for titles such as Some Distant Memory and Wizard With a Gun, has announced that it is shutting down. The studio head and founder, Patrick Morgan, cited weak sales as the main reason for the closure. Despite a promising start with Wizard With a Gun, the studio was unable to secure new projects quickly enough to sustain its operations. As a result, ten employees are expected to lose their jobs as the studio closes its doors.
Founded in 2015, Galvanic Games had gained recognition for its collaboration with indie publisher Devolver Digital on Wizard With a Gun and its story/exploration game, Some Distant Memory. The studio had also worked with tinyBuild and the creators of the webcomic “Cyanide & Happiness” on the now-defunct Rapture Rejects. However, despite these projects, the studio was unable to overcome the challenges faced in the competitive video game industry.
The closure of Galvanic Games is just one example of the many layoffs that have plagued the industry in recent years. More than 10,000 developers have lost their jobs since January, surpassing the previous record cuts from the year before. Various factors have been attributed to these layoffs, such as rising costs of game development, a slowdown in available venture capital investment, and a saturated market due to a busy release schedule.
In an effort to help affected employees secure new jobs, Galvanic Games has created a thread on LinkedIn to celebrate their contributions. The closure of the studio adds to the ongoing challenges faced by game developers, who are grappling with the long-term impacts of the industry’s shift towards “games as a service.” Despite the tough year for games and the difficulties faced by Galvanic Games, the contributions of the studio and its employees have not gone unnoticed as the industry continues to evolve and adapt to changing trends.
Overall, the closure of Galvanic Games highlights the challenges faced by indie game developers in a competitive and rapidly changing industry. While the studio had worked on several well-received projects, it ultimately could not sustain itself due to weak sales and an inability to secure new projects quickly enough. As the industry continues to evolve, it is important for developers to adapt to changing trends and market conditions in order to remain competitive and successful in the ever-growing world of video games.
