The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on different industries and in video games, independent producers are most affected by isolation. Not that producers stop producing their games, but the inability to promote them at gaming conferences and events. The cancellation of events such as E3 and the Game Developers Conference, for example, prevented small studios and independent producers from closing potential distribution deals with publishers.
As TechCrunch advances, Sony has announced the creation of a 10 million dollar fund dedicated to the help of indie producers who have been affected by the coronavirus. The manufacturer promises more details for this initiative soon.
This is not the first time that Japanese technology has come forward to help mitigate the pandemic. At the beginning of April, it had produced a fund of 100 million dollars dedicated to the relief of the disease, but it was focused on the welfare of workers and remote education. It is also offering games in the Play at Home initiative and until May 5 you can access Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collectrion and Journey on PSN.
Valve will also have thought about the impact of the coronavirus on indie producers and will return with the Steam Game Festival early in the summer. This event is an opportunity for independent producers to show their future releases to the public of the digital gaming platform, which, as we know, is huge. That is why it has already opened the application form for participation until April 24th. The festival will take place from the 9th to the 14th of June.
To be valid, the games presented must give players the opportunity to experience small demos and experiences during the festival. They must also open channels of connection, for a closer contact between producers and players. Previously, Valve organized two festivals, one in December, which featured 14 games in 48 hours in its shop windows. And in March, in order to mitigate the cancellation of the GDC, it held another spring festival.
