Gaming

Indie game dev recommends pirating their game instead watching gameplay videos

In one of the surprise hit indie horror games of 2023, Slay the Princess developers are requesting gamers to pirate their game and then play if they do not have funds and purchase it later when convenient.

This might seem a bit odd, as why would a developer want their game to be pirated? After all, everyone wants to make more money. So much so that big gaming companies are putting online DRM to single-player games.

However, Black Tabby Games believes that Slay the Princess is best experienced when played by gamers, instead of watching others play on streaming platforms. It seems that the devs want gamers to enjoy their game, no matter how.

The game is at its best if your first experience is playing it yourself: Devs

In a post, the devs said, “Since a lot of new folks are discovering Slay the Princess: The game is at its best if your first experience is playing it yourself instead of watching someone else’s play-through. And if $ is an issue, pirate it and buy a copy later when you have money if you liked it!”

The game seemingly came out of nowhere and became a hit among horror aficionados. The devs reveal that the first play-through will take somewhere around three hours, there are still many secrets and endings to discover that can take up to 16 hours.

Black Tabby Games also makes a great point about playing the game first-hand, as most of the games are made to be experienced that way. That jump scares and the mind-bending story won’t feel as good while watching other play.

While watching someone else play is the most sensible alternative if someone cannot afford the game, the permission to pirate from developers does come as an admirable move, showing how some devs value player experience more. Do remember to buy the game if you like it.