Some developers, such as the creators of Small Radios Big Televisions and Duck Game, recently shared exciting news on social media. They revealed that Warner Bros., the former owners of Adult Swim Games, had contacted them about returning ownership of their game’s Steam pages. This surprising move marks a significant reversal from Warner Bros.’ previous stance in March, when it seemed like all Adult Swim Games would be removed from sale.
Relief for Game Developers
Landon Podbielski, the developer behind Duck Game, expressed his relief in a post on X, stating, “Duck Game is safe!! The game is being returned to me, along with its store pages on all platforms. Thank you everyone for your support.” Similarly, Owen Deery, the creator of Small Radios Big Television, shared his gratitude after learning that his game would not be retired and that ownership would be returned to him.
Initially, Warner Bros. had informed some developers that they would not be able to transfer ownership of the games back to the original studios due to resource constraints. This decision left many developers uncertain about the future of their games. However, the recent emails sent by Warner Bros. have provided a glimmer of hope for developers who feared losing their creations.
Adult Swim Games, established in 2005, was known for publishing a variety of indie titles, including Robot Unicorn Attack, Jazzpunk, and Westerado: Double Barreled. Despite not claiming intellectual property rights to the games they published, they did control the Steam store pages. The potential delisting of these pages would have erased years of valuable feedback and reviews from players.
Transferring ownership of a Steam store page is a relatively simple process that can have a significant impact on developers. For studios that are no longer operational, there is a risk that some games may never return to the platform. This uncertainty underscores the challenges faced by indie developers in maintaining visibility and accessibility for their games.
The recent decision by Warner Bros. to allow developers to regain ownership of their Steam pages is a positive development for the indie gaming community. It highlights the importance of preserving developers’ creative rights and ensuring that their hard work is recognized and valued in the digital marketplace.
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