Under a year ago, simulator Satisfactory became an Epic Games Store exclusive. Today the developers at Coffee Stain Studios have no regrets about the move as it led to a greater financial independence.
Satisfactory
PCGamesN talked to the studio’s UI/UX designer Nathalie Verwei. The exclusivity deal with Epic, she said, removed some of their financial worries.
As an indie studio it’s nice to have that security that you know that your game is going to get out there and you don’t need to worry about making certain financial deadlines.
Nathalie Verwei, UI / UX Designer at Coffee Stain Studios
Epic covers the losses indie studios bear due to leaving other stores. The Fortnite company made the same deal with Glumberland, makers of Ooblets. Following the deal, a backlash from fans ensued.
With Coffee Stain, fans were unhappy too. Players condemned the departure of the team from Steam. Natalie Verwei, however, seems to have made her peace with this: “Of course, we had some backlash but I think it’s a loud minority.”
According to PC Games Insider, the decision to remove the game’s page from Steam was made by publisher THQ Nordic, which owns Coffee Stain. And apparently, that was the plan even before the publisher purchased the studio this August, according to community manager Jace Varley.