By Editorial Staff
December 20, 2021
In a move that has sent ripples through the independent gaming community, the team behind The Indie Game Website (TIGW) announced on Monday that the publication will enter an indefinite hiatus starting later this week. For four years, the platform has served as a vital lighthouse for developers struggling to navigate the increasingly crowded media landscape, providing a dedicated space for underrepresented titles and diverse creative voices.
While the site will cease publishing new content, the team confirmed that the archives will remain online indefinitely, preserving years of reviews, industry analysis, and guides. Managing Director Lewis Denby described the decision as "bittersweet," emphasizing that the move is a strategic pivot rather than an end to the organization’s commitment to the indie sector.
The Genesis of a Digital Refuge
Launched in 2017, The Indie Game Website was conceived out of a growing frustration with mainstream gaming journalism. In an era where AAA titles often dominate the news cycle and marketing budgets dictate visibility, the founders of TIGW recognized a widening chasm. Small studios, solo developers, and creators operating outside the traditional English-speaking development hubs were finding it nearly impossible to "cut through the noise."
The site was established by the team at the indie game marketing agency Game If You Are Ltd. Unlike many publications that rely on the ebb and flow of advertising revenue or corporate partnerships, TIGW was designed to operate as a labor of love. It was intended to be an editorial sanctuary—a place where quality, diversity, and artistic merit took precedence over marketability.
For the past four years, the editorial direction of the site has been shaped by a rotating cast of industry veterans, including Neil, Jon, Jason, and Khee Hoon. Under their stewardship, the site cultivated a reputation for highlighting projects that would otherwise have gone unnoticed, providing a voice to creators from marginalized backgrounds and global regions often overlooked by larger outlets.
Chronology of a Publishing Pivot
The decision to pause operations did not come overnight. According to internal reflections shared by the management, the trajectory of the site has been one of constant evaluation regarding its impact versus its sustainability.
- 2017: The Indie Game Website officially launches, aiming to democratize media coverage for indie developers.
- 2018–2020: The site establishes itself as a critical voice, expanding its editorial remit and fostering a community of diverse freelance writers.
- Early 2021: As the indie landscape becomes even more saturated, the leadership team begins internal discussions regarding the efficacy of their current editorial model.
- Late 2021: The team confronts the harsh reality of operating a site at a consistent financial loss. A strategic review leads to the conclusion that the resources currently sustaining the website could be better utilized elsewhere.
- December 20, 2021: Official announcement of the hiatus is published, marking the final week of active editorial production.
The Economics of Advocacy: Supporting the Independent Scene
A critical element of this announcement is the acknowledgment of the financial burden the site carried. Since its inception, TIGW operated at a loss. The parent company, Game If You Are, willingly absorbed these costs, viewing the publication as a non-profit-driven mission to support the ecosystem that kept their marketing agency relevant.
However, as the editorial team looked toward 2022, they faced a recurring, fundamental question: How can we best shine a spotlight on indie developers who would normally struggle to cut through the noise?
The data suggests that the "noise" has only grown louder. With thousands of games launching on platforms like Steam every year, the discoverability crisis has deepened. The leadership at TIGW concluded that maintaining a traditional news website might no longer be the most efficient mechanism for delivering that support. Instead, the company is shifting its internal investment toward new initiatives, particularly those focused on supporting marginalized and minoritized developers.
Official Response: From the Desk of the Managing Director
In his official statement, Lewis Denby, Managing Director of Game If You Are Ltd, expressed profound gratitude to the contributors who made the site’s existence possible.
"I am overwhelmed by the achievements of all of The Indie Game Website’s editors—how they have striven to expand the site’s remit, amplifying important voices—both of people making games, and of people writing about them," Denby stated.
He further addressed the community, noting that while the editorial desk is closing, the spirit of the project remains intact. "It’s bittersweet. I am excited about the future, and some of the plans we have in place for 2022—in particular around how we are going to invest in supporting marginalised and minoritised indie developers. We will have more to share on this in the New Year and I can’t wait to get stuck into these new initiatives when the time comes."
Denby underscored that the decision was not a failure, but a tactical realignment. By putting the website on the "back-burner," the organization aims to free up the financial and human capital necessary to tackle the systemic barriers facing developers in a more direct, perhaps more impactful, way.
Implications for the Future of Indie Media
The departure of The Indie Game Website leaves a tangible void in the gaming journalism landscape. The site was one of the few remaining bastions that prioritized human-centric storytelling over algorithm-driven search engine optimization.
The Shrinking Space for Niche Journalism
The closure highlights a broader, troubling trend within digital media: the difficulty of sustaining high-quality, niche-focused journalism without the backing of massive corporate entities. As advertising rates fluctuate and consumer attention spans fragment, smaller publications are increasingly forced to choose between scale (which often dilutes quality) or closure.
The Evolution of Advocacy
However, the pivot hinted at by Game If You Are signals a shift in how advocacy is performed. Rather than acting as a traditional news outlet, the team is signaling a move toward direct support systems. This could manifest in several ways:
- Direct Mentorship: Providing professional development for developers from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Community Building: Moving away from static articles toward interactive workshops or networking hubs.
- Resource Allocation: Using the capital previously tied up in hosting and freelance fees to fund direct grants or specialized marketing assistance for indie teams.
The Legacy of the Archives
For the gaming industry, the decision to keep the website live is a critical act of digital preservation. The thousands of articles written by TIGW contributors serve as a historical record of the indie boom of the late 2010s. By keeping these stories accessible, the team ensures that the games covered—many of which are small, passion projects—are not lost to the "digital rot" that often accompanies shuttered websites.
Conclusion: A New Chapter
While the closing of The Indie Game Website is a loss for those who valued its unique, thoughtful, and often deeply personal coverage, it serves as a reminder of the volatility of the media industry. The team behind the project has proven that advocacy requires evolution.
As we look toward 2022, the industry will be watching closely to see what these "new initiatives" entail. If the passion that defined The Indie Game Website is successfully translated into these upcoming projects, the hiatus may prove to be the necessary precursor to a more robust, direct, and effective form of support for the developers who need it most.
For now, the site stands as a monument to what a small, dedicated group of writers can achieve. As Denby noted in his farewell, the contributors to the site were "heroes" in their own right, championing the creators who build the experiences that define the modern indie era. The website may be entering hibernation, but its mission, it seems, is far from over.
