By Editorial Staff December 20, 2021 In a poignant announcement that has rippled through the independent development community, Lewis Denby, Managing Director of Game If You Are Ltd, confirmed today that The Indie Game Website (TIGW) will be entering an indefinite hiatus effective later this week. The decision marks the conclusion of a four-year tenure during which the publication established itself as a vital, albeit unconventional, pillar of gaming journalism. While the site’s archives will remain accessible to the public, the cessation of new editorial content signals a significant strategic pivot for its parent agency. The Core Mission: A Brief Chronology Launched in 2017, The Indie Game Website was conceived during a period of intense industry consolidation. At the time, the gaming media landscape was frequently criticized for its "AAA-centric" focus, leaving smaller studios, solo developers, and those outside of traditional Western markets with few avenues for meaningful press coverage. "As indie game fanatics, we were frustrated by what we perceived as an increasing dearth of opportunities for indie developers of all walks of life to gain visibility within the media landscape," Denby reflected in his farewell statement. The site’s trajectory was defined by a succession of editorial leadership that prioritized diversity of voice and subject matter. Over its four-year lifespan, the site was helmed by a series of dedicated editors—Neil, Jon, Jason, Khee Hoon, and Jason—who fostered a culture of discovery. By decoupling editorial merit from commercial pressure, the site became a sanctuary for niche, experimental, and hyper-local projects that would otherwise have been buried under the algorithmic noise of modern gaming discourse. Supporting Data and Financial Realities Operating The Indie Game Website was never intended to be a profit-generating endeavor for Game If You Are Ltd. The publication functioned as a "passion project" that the agency willingly subsidized. For years, the site operated at a loss, a financial reality that the leadership team accepted as the cost of supporting the indie ecosystem. However, as the 2021 fiscal year drew to a close, the management team reached a crossroads. The fundamental challenge remained: How does one most effectively support developers who struggle to reach an audience? Internal discussions revealed that while the website was an excellent platform for exposure, the capital and labor required to maintain it were reaching a point of diminishing returns relative to the impact the agency desired to make. To achieve a more substantial, systemic change in how marginalized and minoritized developers are supported, the agency concluded that its limited resources must be reallocated toward more direct initiatives. Official Response: The Strategic Shift The transition is described by Denby as "bittersweet." The decision was not made out of a lack of passion for the craft, but rather from a rigorous re-evaluation of the agency’s long-term goals. "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. While the editorial team will no longer be commissioning new reviews or features, the agency is not abandoning its core mission. Instead, it is shifting its focus toward a new series of initiatives planned for 2022. These initiatives are specifically designed to offer structural support to minoritized developers—a move that suggests a pivot from reporting on the industry to actively participating in its diversification. Implications for the Indie Landscape The departure of TIGW from the active media cycle leaves a tangible void. In an industry increasingly dominated by large-scale influencers and SEO-driven content farms, the loss of an outlet that prioritized human-centric, curated storytelling is significant. The Vacuum of "Deep-Dive" Journalism The Indie Game Website was known for its willingness to take risks on games that lacked large marketing budgets. For many developers, a feature on TIGW was often their first legitimate "break" into the broader gaming conversation. Without such platforms, the barrier to entry for solo developers—particularly those without the budget to hire PR firms—becomes even higher. A New Model for Advocacy? However, there is an optimistic reading of this hiatus. If the resources previously spent on maintaining a web portal are successfully funneled into direct support programs for marginalized developers, the overall impact on the industry could be more profound than what a traditional media site could achieve alone. By moving from a passive observer (the press) to an active participant (an advocate/agency), Game If You Are Ltd may be modeling a new way for organizations to support the indie sector. Looking Ahead: The Legacy of TIGW The impact of the site cannot be measured solely in traffic statistics or ad revenue. It is defined by the hundreds of titles that were given a platform, the dozens of freelance writers who were given a space to develop their voices, and the readers who were introduced to titles that challenged their perceptions of what a game could be. "I am overwhelmed by the achievements of all of The Indie Game Website’s editors—how they have striven to expand the site’s remit, amplifying important voices—both of people making games, and of people writing about them," Denby noted. As the site enters "hibernation," its legacy remains intact. The archives are to be kept live indefinitely, ensuring that the critical analysis and historical records of the indie scene from 2017 to 2021 remain accessible to future researchers and enthusiasts. Conclusion: A Temporary Hiatus? The term "hiatus" leaves the door ajar for a potential return. In an industry defined by rapid change, the specific needs of the indie community are constantly evolving. It is entirely plausible that, as the market shifts again in the coming years, the role of a publication like TIGW could become vital once more. For now, the focus shifts to the upcoming initiatives. While the loss of the site is a moment of sadness for the industry, the pride taken in its achievements and the excitement for the upcoming 2022 projects suggest that this is not an end, but rather a necessary transformation. "Even though it will enter hibernation this week, it is our absolute aim to ensure TIGW’s ethos continues into 2022 and beyond," Denby concluded. "Watch this space." Key Takeaways for the Industry Sustainability: Even mission-driven publications are subject to the realities of operational costs and resource allocation. Media Evolution: The shift away from traditional web journalism toward targeted advocacy programs may be a growing trend for small-to-mid-sized media entities. Archival Importance: By keeping the site live, the team preserves a vital slice of gaming history, preventing the "digital rot" that often plagues defunct gaming outlets. The Human Element: The success of TIGW was largely attributed to its editors and freelance contributors, emphasizing that the value of a publication lies in its editorial perspective rather than its URL. As we look toward 2022, the industry will be watching closely to see how the lessons learned from The Indie Game Website are applied to the next chapter of support for the independent development scene. Whether or not the site ever returns, the mark it left on the industry—and the indie developers it championed—is indelible. Post navigation A Legacy of Discovery: Reflecting on the Closure of The Indie Game Website
