Adult Swim Games Delisting Many Titles, Leaving Indie Developers Disappointed

Adult Swim Games, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, is removing many of the titles it has published, leaving indie game developers like Owen Deery and Michael Molinari frustrated. Warner Bros. is unwilling to transfer store listings back to the original developers, causing concerns about the future availability of these games.

Adult Swim Games Delisting Many Titles, Leaving Indie Developers Disappointed

Adult Swim Games, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, has announced that it will be delisting numerous titles it has published, leaving indie game developers disappointed. This unexpected move has sparked frustration and concern among developers like Owen Deery and Michael Molinari.

( Credit to: Gamesradar )

Warner Bros. is unwilling to transfer store listings back to the original developers, which raises concerns about the future availability of these games. This decision has left developers in a difficult position as they may have to start from scratch to regain visibility and recognition for their work.

( Credit to: Gamesradar )

Developers Express Disappointment and Frustration

Owen Deery, the developer of Small Radios Big Televisions, was the first to reveal that his game was being “retired” from digital stores. Other developers, including those behind games like Fist Puncher and Soundodger+, have also confirmed that their games will be affected. This news has come as a blow to these developers who have put their heart and soul into creating these games.

Michael Molinari, the developer of Soundodger+, expressed his frustration on Twitter, revealing that the “games team is gone” at Adult Swim Games. He further added that there’s no one left to even collect a check. The lack of support and communication from the company has left developers feeling abandoned and disheartened.

Warner Bros. Unwilling to Facilitate Transfer of Store Listings

Despite the requests from developers to transfer store listings back to the original studios, Warner Bros. has cited resource limitations as the reason for their decision. Matt Kain Lewandowski, co-developer of Fist Puncher, requested the transfer of the game to their Steam publisher account to keep it active, but the request was denied. Warner Bros. stated that it would be unfair to transfer games for some platforms but not others.

This unwillingness to facilitate the transfer of store listings puts developers at a disadvantage. They will have to start from scratch, with zero reviews and zero wishlists, which can greatly impact their visibility and success on platforms like Steam. The uncertainty surrounding the situation is a cause for concern among developers.

The Future of Delisted Games and Support for Developers

While there are concerns about the future availability of delisted games, it is important to note that games on platforms like Steam are generally not removed from players’ libraries. However, the lack of support and communication from Adult Swim Games raises doubts about the long-term accessibility of these games.

Warner Bros. is allowing developers to republish their games, but this puts developers at a disadvantage as they have to rebuild their audience and visibility from scratch. Owen Deery has already made his game, Small Radios Big Televisions, available for free as a response to the delisting. Supporting the developers directly by purchasing soundtracks on platforms where they can retain most of the earnings is another way players can show their support.

It is unfortunate that many games are trapped under corporate ownership that seems to have little regard for their value. Developers like Matt Kain Lewandowski emphasize the importance of video games as art and part of our cultural heritage that should be preserved. While the delisting of games can be devastating for developers, it is not necessarily the end. They will continue to create and find ways to share their work with the world.