Early entry has an issue. 

Yes, the unique thought of releasing in-development video games to the general public with a view to acquire significant suggestions and construct a group was sound, nonetheless, we’ve seen and heard from many builders that early entry not supplies that. Overly aggressive environments, typically misunderstanding communities and non-existent gross sales mannequin flexibility has moved the main target of away from rising and fostering a recreation’s improvement, to easily finishing an early transaction with meager hopes of excellent suggestions.

We imagine the answer lies in giving builders the instruments to create their very own program round their recreation, in order that they get the suggestions, playtesting and group that they deserve. 

Today we are launching itch.io refinery, a customizable toolset for first releases & playtests that enables a developer to design their very own distribution mannequin and develop their recreation, and group, how they wish to.  

With itch.io refinery, builders are the one ones to resolve how they first launch their recreation. Whether that comes within the type of an open paid alpha with restricted keys or a closed beta playtest with choose testers, the toolset permits a developer to customise their program.

Here’s among the options itch.io refinery contains:

Limited keys

Developers can now restrict the entire variety of keys obtainable for buy. This makes for a good way to slowly roll our a recreation for testing or to focus on those that are most excited by your recreation (i.e. from a mailing listing.) 

Exclusive content material (rewards)

Exclusive content material is a method of offering a restricted amount reward to a purchaser in the event that they buy your
undertaking at a particular worth level. Adding a reward to a undertaking is a good way to present unique
perks to early patrons.

Command-line instruments and delta patches

With our command-line instruments, builders can push a brand new construct on to itch.io proper out of your construct script. Additionally, solely the modified recordsdata shall be uploaded by you and downloaded by gamers to create delta patches, so no extra full re-downloads only for patching. This is nice for gamers of in-development video games which are being patched continuously.

Selling bodily items

 Another use case for rewards is promoting bodily items together with digital content material. In this
instance you would possibly create a reward above the minimal worth that comes with t-shirt. As extra
shirts turn out to be obtainable you may enhance the amount. Developers can specify on the reward that you just’d like
to gather a delivery deal with.

Developers

may also add a customized subject to get the dimensions of the shirt.

Restricted group entry 

Developers

can now create a
message board solely obtainable to the individuals who have purchased your recreation. This is a non-public hub the place creators might be open about your recreation’s improvement and acquire helpful suggestions out of your gamers.      

Games with itch.io refinery 

There are already 5 video games which are (or are going to be) utilizing the toolset. Check them out, they’re rad:

If you’re excited by utilizing itch.io refinery in your recreation, the instruments are launching for everybody right now, however be happy to e mail us at assist@itch.io if you’d like some steering and solutions.

We can’t wait to see all of the video games that can develop utilizing itch.io refinery. Maybe it’s been forgotten that accessing video games early is a privilege, not a proper; we imagine by placing builders in charge of that entry, that gained’t be the case.

We love you.

-The itch.io group