adminFar Far West became a breakout Early Access release for publisher Fireshine Games, selling 250,000 copies in its first 48 hours and passing one million within the following two weeks. Developed by French studio Evil Raptor, the co-op shooter combines a cyberpunk cowboy setting with familiar elements from games such as Helldivers and Deep Rock Galactic. Fireshine executives say its success reflects both a distinctive concept and a wider approach to identifying promising games.
Image credit: Evil Raptor/Fireshine Games
How Far Far West found its audience
Fireshine’s chief portfolio officer, Jasper Tanner-Barnes, describes the game’s appeal as a balance between recognizable reference points and fresh ideas. Its Western and cyberpunk influences give players something familiar to connect with, while its own visual identity and gameplay help it stand apart.
That mix can be useful for developers assessing a game’s pitch: recognizable influences may help explain the experience, but they need to support a clear identity rather than make the game feel derivative. Tanner-Barnes says Far Far West brings its influences together with confident execution.
Jasper Tanner-Barnes | Image credit: Fireshine Games
Why wishlists are only one signal
Predicting a game’s performance on Steam is not as simple as tracking one number. Fireshine considers a range of indicators, including followers, Discord community size, playtest participation, and engagement with a developer’s posts and updates.
For Tanner-Barnes, the important question is whether interest is gaining momentum. A game may have modest Steam wishlists but attract strong attention on TikTok or active discussion elsewhere. Conversely, a large wishlist count does not necessarily mean a community is engaged or talking about the game.
- Look across platforms: Check whether interest appears in multiple places, not only on a store page.
- Measure participation: Playtest activity and community discussion can show whether people are willing to engage.
- Consider the context: Numbers are more meaningful when interpreted alongside the game’s audience, concept and communication.
Fireshine CEO Brian Foote adds that data has limits. Publishers may all be watching similar metrics, so evaluating a game also requires close attention to its core idea and gameplay. In some cases, that means backing a project before every typical indicator is available.
Brian Foote | Image credit: Fireshine Games
Fireshine’s focus on distinctive games
Fireshine began as Sold Out in 2014 and changed its name in 2022. Its earlier successes include Core Keeper, developed by Pugstorm. The game sold more than 250,000 copies in its first week in Early Access and reached one million sales after four months. Fireshine has also worked on AILA and has Duskfade and Denshattack among its upcoming titles.
Tanner-Barnes says the publisher looks for games that stand out and have a clearly identifiable audience. A strong follower count alone is not enough if the team does not believe in the project’s central vision. The way a game is presented should also fit what its intended players value, whether that means gameplay details, spectacle, familiar references or the chance to try it themselves.
For developers and publishers, this points to a practical principle: define the audience early, then make sure the game’s features and communications give that audience a compelling reason to pay attention. Fireshine also emphasizes close collaboration with development partners and a shared vision for both the game and its communication.
Fireshine’s position on generative AI
Foote says Fireshine does not work with partners that rely on generative AI or generative artwork in core game creation. He distinguishes those uses from tools such as code completion or writing assistance, which he considers a different set of cases. The publisher’s stated position is focused on generated creative assets and their role in game development.
Image credit: Undercoders/Fireshine Games/Boltray Games
What comes next for Far Far West
Far Far West had only recently entered Early Access at the time of the comments, and Fireshine said it planned to support the game as development continued. Foote also pointed to Denshattack and Duskfade as upcoming releases, describing them as original or differentiated projects.
The broader lesson from Far Far West is that a promising game cannot be judged by a single metric. Community momentum, a clear audience, distinctive gameplay and a committed development partnership all contribute to a publisher’s decision. For Fireshine, backing Far Far West meant combining those signals with confidence in the game itself.
