Indie platformers without Game Pass lose reach
Making an indie platformer and releasing it are two different tasks. Most games in this genre launch in stores alongside thousands of competitors, where a new title is seen only by the developer's friends and a few random buyers.
Without a prominent spot on the storefront, a platformer loses 80–90% of its potential audience before day one of sales — the marketing budget goes into trying to break through the noise, not into game development.
Getting into the Game Pass catalog changes the rules. The game gets instant access to millions of subscribers who already trust the curation and are ready to try new titles without purchasing.
This is not just reach — it's a free showcase on the main screen, inclusion in curated lists, and a word-of-mouth effect: the platformer gets discussed, streamed, and recommended.
The developer gets not one-time buyers but a target audience that returns for sequels and supports the project with donations.
The problem is that preparing a game for the catalog is a separate discipline. Requirements for stability, localization, and adaptation to different devices often come as a surprise to studios that nail gameplay but don't know the specifics of subscription platforms.
As a result, the game sits in drafts for years, while reach goes to competitors who prepared in advance.
We close this gap. For ten years we have been helping indie studios bring platformers up to Game Pass standards: from project architecture to final certification.
We take on the technical part so that your platformer doesn't just launch, but lands in the catalog with maximum reach and revenue.
What benefits does an indie platformer in the catalog bring?
Audience reach
Being in Game Pass opens access to a multi-million subscriber audience already ready to try new games without an additional purchase. This lowers the entry barrier: the player downloads your platformer with one click — and within minutes dives into the world. For the client, this means instant reach expansion without the cost of acquiring each user.
Growing the player base
The Game Pass catalog is an ever-updating storefront where your indie platformer sits next to recognized hits. Such projects get more attention, and players are more likely to leave reviews, add the game to their library, and recommend it to friends.
This way, in a short cycle, you build a base of loyal users that you can later use for announcing upcoming projects and launching sales in other channels.
Strengthening the brand
Presence in a prestigious subscription is a mark of quality for players and journalists. The very fact of getting into Game Pass is seen as an award confirming the project's level.
This strengthens the studio's brand, helps negotiate with partners and publishers, and draws attention to related products — merch, expansions, or future installments.
Sales and monetization growth
Although Game Pass operates on subscription, the reach effect positively impacts sales. Some players who discover the game in the catalog buy it in other stores or pre-order the next installment.
In-app purchases and expansions also work: the audience is already engaged, so conversion to paid actions is higher.
An indie platformer in Game Pass is not a one-time publication but a long-term growth channel: reach, player base, recognition, and sales work together. The client gets a measurable result that can be evaluated through metrics of installs, returns, and community activity.
Development formats for Game Pass
Getting into Game Pass means access to millions of subscribers willing to pay for quality gameplay. For a game to make it into the catalog, it must be stable, clear from the first minutes, and engaging. We handle all stages — from idea to release — so you don't have to get into the technical weeds.
Every project has its own starting point: some come with a concept, some with a finished game, and some realize after release that they need to keep evolving.
That's why we offer three formats: building a game from scratch, bringing an existing game up to Game Pass standards, or development with ongoing support.
Cooperation formats
| Format | Who it's for | What the client gets |
|---|---|---|
| Full turnkey development | You have an idea, no finished game | A ready product: from concept to Game Pass publication, with a clear timeline |
| Polishing an existing project | The game exists but fails moderation or misses metrics | We bring it up to Game Pass requirements: stability, gameplay, retention |
| Development with support | You plan to grow the game after release | Updates, new content, technical support — the game stays alive |
How to choose a format
No finished game? Go with full turnkey development — you'll get a result you can show partners and investors. Already have a game but it doesn't pass selection? Polishing will save time and budget. Want the game to stay in the catalog for years? Support will keep subscribers interested and deliver steady activity.
How development cooperation works
We've structured the cooperation so that at every stage you understand what's happening and what result you'll get. All work, timelines, and approval points are fixed in the plan from the first brief — the process becomes predictable and transparent.
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Brief and goals. We discuss your idea, audience, and business task: what the game should bring — brand recognition, customer engagement, or revenue from sales. We fix timelines, budget, and success criteria.
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Concept approval. We show a prototype, visual style, and gameplay mechanics. You make edits, we refine — changes at this stage cost many times less than after launch.
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Development plan with milestones. We break the project into stages with clear results and demo versions. You see progress live, not just in reports, and can adjust priorities in time.
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Development and interim demos. We create levels, characters, and interface. At an early stage, we show a vertical slice so you can be sure we're moving in the right direction.
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Testing and polishing. We check stability, balance, and controls. If you plan a Game Pass release, we check platform requirements in advance so there are no surprises before launch.
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Release. We launch the game on target platforms, monitor the first days' metrics, and quickly fix any issues. You get a working product within the agreed timeline.
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Post-release support. We collect analytics, release updates, and prepare development plans: content, expansions, or a sequel. You're left with support, not a 'one-day' game.
In the end, you get not just a technical solution but a product that launches on time and works toward your goal — whether that's reach, loyalty, or revenue.
What's included in the project deliverable
The project deliverable is not just a ready build but a full set of artifacts that remain yours. The project can be launched, developed, and handed over to any team without losing context or rights to the result. Below is what's included at each stage.
- Playable prototype. A working version with the core mechanics that you can show to publishers, investors, or partners to evaluate the idea.
- Project source code. The complete source code in a structured, commented form. You're not dependent on a single developer and can bring in any studio for further work.
- Build for distribution. An optimized version for publishing in subscriptions (including Game Pass) and stores. No need to dig into technical details — you get a finished product.
- Management tools. An admin panel for configuring levels, content, and balance. You can make updates without a programmer.
- Source assets. Editable graphics, sound, and animation files so you can adapt the game to your brand or new tasks.
- Reports and analytics. Summaries of the work done at each stage, testing logs, and post-launch metrics. You see how the game achieves its goals.
- Support and documentation. An operating manual and technical support after release — we fix bugs, answer questions, and help with adapting to new platforms.
Example: how a platformer became popular in a month
We helped a small indie studio bring the platformer Proryv into the Game Pass catalog. The team had a working prototype but lacked the experience to take the game to release on a major platform: difficulty balance, adapting controls to devices, passing certification. The task was to get into curated lists and build an audience in the first month.
Project story
We agreed on timelines, split the work into stages, and took release preparation on ourselves. The first two months we tuned the difficulty balance: beginners don't quit after the first level, experienced players get a challenge. Then we adapted the controls and cleaned up bugs that affected the experience.
By the end of the fourth month, the game was ready to be submitted to the platform. We helped with documentation and certification without delays. In the fifth month, the game appeared in the catalog — exactly when the platform was expanding its indie game selection.
Results and feedback
In the first month after release, more than 60,000 players completed the platformer. Average session time was 35 minutes — a high figure for the genre. A third of players returned the next day; the rating was 4.8 out of 5.
The studio head summed it up: "We expected a good start, but the result exceeded expectations." After the success, the team ordered an additional level pack and planned a sequel.
How to choose the right format for your task?
The choice of cooperation format directly depends on what you already have and where you're headed. If you only have an idea and want to release a platformer on Game Pass within the next six months, you need one mode of work.
If the project is already in development but you lack niche specialists or time, you need another. The more precisely you understand your task, the less risk you take of overpaying for unnecessary options and the faster you get a measurable result.
For us, the best format is the one that meets your need without extra costs. When you reach out with a request, we first analyze the situation: your budget, team, experience, and your goals for reach and monetization.
Based on that, we propose a model: full turnkey development, strengthening your team, or consulting support at complex stages. This lets you avoid buying "everything at once" and instead choose exactly the scope of work needed at your starting point.
Full development is justified if you want a finished product and plan to handle only publishing and promotion. We take on the entire cycle: game design, art, programming, testing, and Game Pass certification preparation.
If you already have a prototype or part of the content, it's more cost-effective to bring us in for specific tasks — for example, to speed up production or refine the technical side without restructuring the process around a new team.
The main advice is not to try to guess the format in advance. Send us a description of your task or the current state of the project, and we'll honestly tell you which option will deliver results faster and cheaper.
It's free, non-binding, and gives you an objective picture within a couple of days. That way, you'll know exactly what to spend your budget on and what timelines to include in your plan.
Frequently asked questions about indie platformer development
Before placing an order, every client asks the same questions — about timelines, payment, and guarantees. That's normal: the answers determine how smoothly you'll go from idea to Game Pass release. We'll address the biggest concerns right now, and we'll discuss the rest on a free consultation.
What if deadlines slip? Who is responsible for risks?
We fix timelines in the contract from the start and take on all development-related risks. If at some stage a feature turns out to be more complex than expected, we first offer two solutions: simplify the mechanic or keep the original vision but move the release date.
The final call is always yours, but in practice we deliver 9 out of 10 projects within the agreed window.
How does payment work? Do I need to pay the full amount at once?
No, we work in stages: you pay for a specific result, not for promises. Typically, it's an initial payment and several tranches after key milestones are delivered — prototype, gameplay build, polishing.
A transparent estimate is provided, no hidden fees — you always know what you're paying for and what you're getting at the moment.
What happens after the Game Pass release? Do you abandon the project?
Release is not the finish line — it's the start. In the first weeks after launch, we support the project: we collect player feedback and metrics, quickly fix bugs, and roll out small updates if needed.
If the game is well received, we plan content patches and seasonal events together, which keep the audience engaged and increase the chances of being featured in Game Pass selections.
If you're ready to discuss your project with all timelines and guarantees in mind, leave a request — within two business days we'll prepare a plan and an estimate, and you'll get answers to your questions with no obligations.Let's discuss your project in a free consultation
Every Game Pass project starts with a conversation — and we suggest starting it for free. During the consultation, you'll tell us about your idea, audience, and timelines, and we'll assess its potential, propose implementation options, and prepare a commercial proposal. No obligations — only value for your business.
On the free consultation, you'll get:
- A sober concept assessment: how well the game fits Game Pass and what needs to be refined to get it into the selection.
- A preliminary work plan and stages: from prototype to release — you'll understand what's happening at every step.
- A cost calculated after audit, with no hidden fees: we'll fix the cost and timelines in the commercial proposal so you can plan.
- Risk analysis: what pitfalls platformers face and how we'll navigate them.
- Monetization recommendations: how to build revenue inside Game Pass and beyond.
- A clear answer on whether you should make the game now or wait — honest, based on experience.
Leave a request for a consultation — we'll respond within one business day. After the conversation, you'll receive a commercial proposal with a fixed cost and timeline. It's non-binding: you can make your decision calmly, without pressure.
Contact us now — take the first step toward a game that Game Pass will notice and players will appreciate.