adminKinetic Publishing, launched by the team behind Phasmophobia, aims to help independent game developers with funding and practical advice. The UK-based publisher plans to support two or three projects each year, with potential budgets ranging from a few hundred thousand pounds to £1 million. It is accepting pitches from developers worldwide and across a range of genres.
Image credit: Kinect Publishing
What Kinetic Publishing offers indie developers
Kinetic Games founder Daniel Knight says the publishing initiative grew out of his experience building a game as a solo developer and later expanding his studio. Phasmophobia has sold more than 25 million copies since its 2020 release, and Kinetic Games has grown to a team of 40 people.
Asim Tanvir, Kinetic Publishing’s director of marketing and partnerships, says the new division wants to back independent creators without limiting them to a particular genre. Although Kinetic’s own experience is in cooperative horror, the team is also open to cosy games, RPGs and other kinds of projects.
The publisher has not signed any games yet. It is currently looking for unsigned projects that are approximately 12 to 18 months from release. Its goal of working with a small number of teams each year is intended to give each project focused attention rather than build a large publishing slate.
For developers preparing a pitch, it may help to clearly explain the game’s scope, current development stage, expected release window and specific support needs. Kinetic says its funding decisions will depend on each project rather than follow a single fixed budget.
Daniel Knight
Independent funding and creative control
Kinetic Publishing says it has no investors, financial backers or shareholders. Its team will make its own greenlight decisions, and the company says it does not want to take creative control away from the developers it supports.
Funding could range from a few hundred thousand pounds up to £1 million, depending on a game’s scale and requirements. The team says it may consider a larger amount for an especially strong project, assessing the proposal and its needs before deciding what level of support is appropriate.
This flexible approach could be useful for small studios whose needs vary considerably. Before seeking a publishing partner, developers can make their discussions more productive by preparing a realistic budget and identifying where they need help, whether that is financing, development feedback or release planning.
Asim Tanvir
Practical experience beyond funding
Knight’s experience includes moving from solo development to building a team, releasing a game on PC and later on console, and handling the business challenges that come with studio growth. He points to matters such as company setup, taxes, legal support and trademarks as important tasks that developers may overlook while concentrating on their games.
Kinetic Publishing intends to combine financial backing with guidance on development, business and marketing. The team has five senior members with different areas of expertise and plans to hire additional staff. It also expects to provide feedback on games and help teams prepare for release.
Rather than impose rigid deadlines, the publisher says it wants to support projects while respecting the developers’ plans and creative decisions. Its current focus is on games expected to launch within the next 12 to 18 months.
“We don’t want to come in and take creative control of their projects.”
Daniel Knight
Phasmophobia has sold more than 25 million copies. | Image credit: Kinetic Games
What Kinetic Publishing’s launch means
Kinetic Publishing is positioning itself as a small, hands-on partner for independent studios, combining project funding with industry experience and release support. Its stated aim is to help teams grow without directing their creative work. For indie developers considering a pitch, the most practical first step is to outline the project clearly and explain what kind of support would make the biggest difference.
