BattleBit Remastered: A Tale of Indie Success and Caution

The low-polygon multiplayer shooter, BattleBit Remastered, developed by three independent game developers, has become a huge success in the gaming world. Within only two weeks of its release, the game managed to sell 1.8 million copies, generating over 800k wishlists in advance. It has entered the top-selling chart of Steam, and its concurrent player count has been constantly increasing since its launch, reaching a peak of over 87k CCU.

However, the success of BattleBit Remastered is not a result of accidental virality. The lead programmer of the game, SgtOkiDoki, and his team spent over six years gradually developing and improving the game’s design formula. Having experience in creating mods for other games, the first testers of the early version of BattleBit in Steam Greenlight over six and a half years ago were those who were already familiar with the team’s work in the modding community.

During that time, the team limited playtesting only to weekends and provided the closed alphas to content creators, generating positive word of mouth. An in-built analytics system helped the team track player actions and constantly improve the game. Between 2018 and 2019, the developers changed the concept of BattleBit, making the gameplay more casual, which helped them attract more players and finally reach over 100 concurrent players on the server after four years of improving the game and finding the right formula.

In 2022, thanks to attention from streamers and word of mouth, BattleBit saw a significant increase in the number of followers on Steam. The developers’ hard work paid off in 2023 when Valve offered them a popup feature before the game’s launch, and it eventually became a chart-topping hit.

SgtOkiDoki believes that there are various reasons for the success of BattleBit Remastered, including its well-designed multiplayer experience, the team’s vast modding experience, which helped them build up an audience and find early adopters for the game, and fitting into an underserved niche of low-poly shooters like Unturned and Ravenfield. Players are looking for a “classic Battlefield experience without all the crap that AAA studios have been adding to them,” and BattleBit satisfies this demand. The developers spent years building the community, improving different elements of the game, and networking with content creators, which should not be underestimated.

Despite the success of BattleBit Remastered, SgtOkiDoki warns other indie developers that creating a multiplayer game is not an easy task. He advises them to make a single-player game for their first project, as they should be ready to face significant challenges if they dive into the multiplayer market without proper preparation.

In conclusion, BattleBit Remastered is a story of indie success and caution. The developers spent years building a community, improving different elements of the game, and networking with content creators, which eventually led to their chart-topping hit. While their success is a testament to their hard work and dedication, it also serves as a warning to other indie studios who wish to create a multiplayer game. Proper planning and experience are crucial, and one should not enter the multiplayer market without thorough preparation.

What is BattleBit Remastered?

BattleBit Remastered is a low-poly multiplayer shooter developed by three independent game developers that has become a huge success in the gaming world, selling 1.8 million copies in just two weeks since its release.

How did the developers of BattleBit Remastered build their audience and community?

The developers of BattleBit Remastered spent over six years gradually developing and improving the game’s design formula. They limited playtesting to weekends, provided the closed alphas to content creators, and used an in-built analytics system to track player actions and constantly improve the game. Additionally, the team’s vast modding experience helped them build up an audience and find early adopters for the game.

What are some reasons behind the success of BattleBit Remastered?

According to SgtOkiDoki, the lead programmer of the game, BattleBit Remastered’s success can be attributed to its well-designed multiplayer experience, fitting into an underserved niche of low-poly shooters, and the developers’ efforts in building a community, improving different elements of the game, and networking with content creators.

What did the developers of BattleBit Remastered change between 2018 and 2019?

Between 2018 and 2019, the developers of BattleBit Remastered changed the concept of the game to make the gameplay more casual, which helped them attract more players and reach over 100 concurrent players on the server after four years of improving the game and finding the right formula.

What advice does SgtOkiDoki have for other indie developers who want to create a multiplayer game?

SgtOkiDoki advises other indie developers to make a single-player game for their first project and be prepared to face significant challenges if they dive into the multiplayer market without proper preparation.