Bigmode is described as a publisher with “a passionate voice for quality, originality and fun” in the indie game space and is willing to engage with projects at any stage “from pitch to completion”. In particular, Bigmode will avoid projects that use NFT, crypto and blockchain technology. Gastrow co-founded Bigmode with partner Leah and said he wanted to venture into publishing after spending more than a decade on YouTube promoting indies while trying to “beat lifeless money into the dustbin”. “I’ve always sought out the best indie games out there and tried to do justice to them, bringing millions of eyes to the games that really deserve attention,” Gustrow said, giving his credentials during a YouTube announcement. “For gamers who really play and care about video games, my channel is where they come to find out what is really worth playing. Bigmode will be a harmonious continuation of my channel. Me and Leah are not only the face of this company. We are the company. This is our vision and our number one priority is to publish some of the best games out there.” Explaining how hands-on Bigmode will be, Gastrow said that while he doesn’t want to take creative control of projects, he hopes to be more involved in the development process, noting that he’s “sick of sitting on the sidelines waiting for great games to come out.”
Big Talk
Gustrow admitted to a lot of hype during the announcement video, but said that Bigmode will be “all about making the games and the developers.” “We’ve put a lot of effort into making the most developer-friendly contracts. I think we’re going to bring insane value to the table and, bottom line, help good games succeed and help them continue to succeed going forward.” Bigmode is currently accepting project proposals through its website, noting that it wants to work with developers with a “clear, strong vision” and “deep gaming experience and understanding.” As for what Bigmode itself will bring to the table, the company’s website says it can provide funding, development support, PR and community management, QA, porting and localization support, and help with merchandising. At the time of writing, however, it is unclear what this means in real terms. There’s no denying Gastrow’s reach and popularity as a content creator, with his channel currently boasting 7.22 million subscribers and a slew of videos with millions of views, but it’s fair to say that details are thin on the ground when it comes to what exactly Bigmode will offer developers.
