At the end of this year, we will be celebrating our 13th anniversary. Throughout our journey, there have been many special and memorable moments, and 2023 is definitely one of them.

Often, when we think of independent game developers, we only remember their passion for creating unique and memorable experiences. However, few studios are concerned with being truly independent, even assuming the responsibility of distributing their games to users; most leave this to a publisher/producer. In 2023, we have reached a point where we feel the need to take a step further, to challenge ourselves with a new objective, with new goals. After all, we have built up a very solid knowledge over the last few years. That is why Izyplay Game Studio is now also Izy Hits Publishing.

With a team exclusively dedicated to the distribution/publishing of our titles on multiple platforms, such as mobile, PC and console, we have reached an important level of maturity, beginning this new journey of self-publishing.

The Era of Self-Publishing: The Revolution of Indie Games

In the gaming world, we are witnessing a revolution. More and more developers are becoming autonomous in relation to the publishing of their projects. But what is the reason behind this transformation? Autonomy and control in the distribution of their product with decision-making power over all stages of the process.

Does this mean that any independent developer can become a publishing company? Far from it. There is no doubt that for a developer to publish their own games, it requires a lot of knowledge and a consolidated base. And all of this takes time to build.

On the other hand, we at Izyplay see "Self-publishing" as something beyond total control of our product, but also sharing our visions and stories with the world, without the restrictions often imposed by traditional publishers. It's about daring, dreaming, innovating and overcoming challenges.

"Iza's Supermarket": A Journey of Self-Publishing

As mentioned before, self-publishing gives you power over all stages of a game's launch, from its creation to management and promotion. Our experience with the launch of "Iza's Supermarket" illustrates this exciting journey. This captivating game transports players to the daily life of Iza, a determined and dreamy girl since she was a child, who dreams of having her own business when she grows up. Today, this little girl, who has become a courageous woman, begins an epic journey in pursuit of this dream.

The game also represents the result of a unique development model created by Izyplay, which is focused on data-driven, MVP, and rapid prototyping. The company's CEO, Everton Vieira, states that this new process is essential to reduce production risks, as well as achieve a high level of quality, understanding very well what the player wants. “Even in a much more simplified format, the game was tested in the market a year before the current version, which made us confident about its potential,” says the CEO. After this test in the market, the game has been receiving regular updates to its mechanics, content and visuals, all based on feedback and constant testing with users.

Developing this game challenged us to explore new horizons in design, gameplay and storytelling. We were able to add a personal and authentic touch to every aspect of the game. We didn’t just create a game, we also told a story.

Embracing Self-Publishing

For those of you who are also considering self-publishing, we would like to share some essential tips we have learned along the way:

• Be passionate about your vision: Keep your passion and authenticity in your work, as this will reflect in your final product.

• Learn from the community: Be open to feedback and learn from other independent developers. The gaming community is incredibly supportive.

• Marketing is key: Invest time in promoting your game. Use social media and online marketing tools to build a loyal following.

• Be resilient: Be prepared to face challenges, but never give up. Self-publishing can be a difficult journey, but every obstacle overcome makes you stronger.

• Self-publishing is a milestone of maturity, but it's okay if your studio doesn't have it as a goal. It's a matter of the business vision that works best for you.

• Publishing F2P and Premium games are very different. Keep that in mind.

And before the question arises, we've already answered it: Will we publish projects from other Brazilian studios? Not yet. We don't believe in Publishers who haven't published their own games before offering publishing to other studios.

Izyplay Game Studio Editorial