The indie game development dream often teeters on a knife’s edge, but for studio semiwork, their co-op horror game REPO wasn’t just a dream come true – it was a lifeline. In a recent video update, the developers candidly shared how the game’s unexpected, explosive popularity literally rescued their studio from the brink.
It’s a narrative many aspiring developers can relate to. “One day we were crossing our fingers for rent money,” semiwork developers revealed, “and the next we had millions of players storming our servers to play our game.” This stark contrast highlights the volatile nature of indie development and the profound impact a breakout hit can have. The team had previously expressed gratitude for REPO’s reception, but this latest insight underscores a critical truth: the game “literally made semiwork as a studio survive.”
However, this sudden catapult to success wasn’t without its significant hurdles. While immensely proud, semiwork reiterated that the journey has been far from smooth. The “sudden and explosive success” for the small indie team brought with it “massive mountains of paperwork, preventing hackers from destroying the game too much, bug squashing.” These crucial, yet demanding, tasks inevitably “pulled our tiny team away from all the fun stuff,” which, as they put it, “is to create actual content for the game.”
Fortunately, it appears semiwork is navigating through this overwhelming backlog. The team is now shifting focus from the behind-the-scenes grind back to what players are eagerly anticipating: new in-game experiences. With an upcoming update, first announced on March 7th, already generating significant buzz, the studio is poised to build on REPO’s incredible momentum.
Reassuring their patient fanbase, semiwork concluded, “We are finally punching through that long to-do list, so future updates won’t take this long. We cannot wait to truly create content for REPO.” Players can look forward to a substantial injection of new material, as the developers promised, “there will be new monsters, new valuables, new items, and other surprises along this journey.”
REPO’s journey is a testament to talent, a bit of luck, and the sheer perseverance required in the games industry. As semiwork transitions from survival mode to creative expansion, the future of their co-op horror sensation looks brighter – and scarier – than ever. Players are advised to “stay tuned.”
