A Chapter Closes: The Indie Game Website Enters Indefinite Hiatus

By Editorial Staff
December 20, 2021

In a move that has sent ripples through the independent gaming community, Lewis Denby, Managing Director of Game If You Are Ltd, announced on December 20, 2021, that The Indie Game Website (TIGW) will cease active operations and enter an indefinite hiatus. The decision marks the end of a four-year tenure during which the outlet established itself as a critical, albeit non-profit, pillar of indie game journalism.

Main Facts: The End of an Era

Launched in 2017, The Indie Game Website was conceived as a direct response to a perceived systemic failure in the gaming media landscape: the lack of visibility for smaller, independent, and international studios. For four years, the publication served as a dedicated platform for developers struggling to penetrate the "noise" of the mainstream market.

The announcement confirms that the site will cease publishing new content later in the week of December 20, 2021. However, the publication will not be dismantled entirely; the site’s digital archives will remain live indefinitely, preserving years of reviews, long-form features, and developer profiles. Managing Director Lewis Denby emphasized that while the editorial operations are pausing, the ethos behind the project remains a primary focus for the parent company, Game If You Are.

Chronology: A Four-Year Journey of Advocacy

The trajectory of The Indie Game Website was defined by a commitment to diversity in coverage and a revolving door of editorial leadership that aimed to keep the platform’s perspective fresh.

• 2017: The Launch. Game If You Are, an indie-focused marketing agency, launched the platform with the explicit goal of providing a space for games that lacked the marketing budgets or public relations machinery of larger studios.
• 2018–2020: Editorial Evolution. Over the years, the site underwent several editorial transitions, with leadership passing from Neil to Jon, then Jason, Khee Hoon, and back to Jason. This period was characterized by a push to cover titles from non-English speaking regions and to elevate voices that were frequently overlooked by major outlets.
• 2021: Strategic Realignment. As the year progressed, the financial strain of running a perpetually loss-making entity began to clash with the company’s broader goals. Despite a willingness to subsidize the site, the team reached a crossroads regarding the efficiency of their investment.
• December 20, 2021: The Hiatus. Denby issued a formal statement announcing the hibernation of the site, effective later in the week, to redirect resources toward new initiatives launching in 2022.

Supporting Data and Financial Realities

The closure of The Indie Game Website is a stark reminder of the financial fragility inherent in specialized, high-quality, independent journalism.

Since its inception, the site operated at a financial loss. Unlike mainstream gaming outlets that rely heavily on advertising revenue, algorithmic click-throughs, or corporate sponsorship, TIGW functioned as an extension of Game If You Are’s mission. The parent company purposefully took on the financial burden, viewing it as a necessary contribution to the health of the indie ecosystem.

However, as the media landscape grew increasingly competitive, the cost of maintaining the site—both in terms of capital and labor—outpaced its output capacity. The team found themselves grappling with a critical question: How can we best shine a spotlight on indie developers who would normally struggle to cut through the noise?

Ultimately, the leadership determined that the capital currently being spent on maintaining a traditional review site could be more effectively deployed through different, more targeted initiatives. By "putting the site on the back-burner," the company is essentially pivoting its investment from editorial coverage to direct support systems.

Official Response: The "Bittersweet" Transition

In his official statement, Lewis Denby adopted a tone of reflection, pride, and measured optimism. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, noting that it was made to ensure the sustainability of their overarching mission.

"The reality is that we needed to make a decision on where our investment was best spent in order to achieve this goal, and that means The Indie Game Website—for now, at least—needs to be put on the back-burner," Denby stated.

He was quick to praise the contributions of the editorial staff and freelancers, citing the "astonishing number of titles" they brought to light. He specifically lauded the editorial team’s efforts to expand the site’s remit, emphasizing that the project was never just about games; it was about the people—both developers and writers—who form the backbone of the independent scene.

Denby concluded with a hint of what lies ahead: "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."

Implications for the Indie Game Landscape

The departure of The Indie Game Website from the active media cycle leaves a notable void. In an industry where "visibility" is the currency of survival, the loss of an outlet dedicated to amplifying the unheard represents a structural blow to the independent development community.

1. The "Visibility Gap"

The primary concern for the indie community is the potential for a widened "visibility gap." With fewer outlets willing to cover non-blockbuster titles, smaller studios are increasingly reliant on social media algorithms and influencer marketing, which are often unpredictable and inherently biased toward viral content rather than merit or artistic innovation.

2. A Shift in Advocacy

However, the implications are not entirely negative. The fact that Game If You Are is shifting its resources toward supporting "marginalized and minoritised indie developers" suggests a maturation of the support model. Rather than providing passive coverage (reviews), the company may be moving toward active intervention (grants, mentorship, or direct advocacy). If these 2022 initiatives prove successful, they could provide a blueprint for how agencies can support indie creators more effectively than a traditional news outlet.

3. The Future of Independent Journalism

The hiatus of TIGW also underscores the ongoing crisis in digital journalism. As advertising models continue to decline and the pressure for "evergreen content" grows, niche sites struggle to maintain their independence. TIGW’s choice to pause rather than dilute its quality or sell to a corporate entity preserves its legacy.

Looking Toward 2022

As the industry turns its attention to the upcoming year, the legacy of The Indie Game Website remains firmly in place. By keeping the site online, Game If You Are ensures that the repository of knowledge remains accessible to researchers, players, and developers alike.

Whether this hiatus proves to be a permanent closure or a temporary pause remains to be seen. In his closing remarks, Denby hinted at the possibility of a return: "Who knows, maybe one day it’ll be the right time to resurrect it!"

For now, the indie game community must contend with the loss of a tireless advocate. Yet, the promise of new, targeted support for marginalized voices suggests that while the platform has changed, the mission remains very much alive. The "indie spirit" that drove the site’s inception is being redirected, not extinguished, and the industry will be watching closely to see what Game If You Are reveals in the new year.