"It's less risky to be the masters of our own fate" – The AAA developers going indie

Justin Fischer and Brock Feldman, laid off from Warner Bros’ Player First Games in 2025 after Multiversus’ shutdown, transitioned to indie development with Airlock Games. They cite high user acquisition costs and industry instability as key reasons for leaving AAA, where layoffs have exceeded 58,000 since 2022. Fischer emphasizes the appeal of indie work’s flexibility and creative control, despite financial sacrifices, as a preferable alternative to uncertain AAA employment.

Airlock Games is developing *What the Stars Forgot*, a sci-fi horror management sim, with a deliberately small scope to avoid overreach. Fischer highlights the challenge of funding large projects amid current investment scarcity, opting instead to self-fund the title. The studio raised over $25,000 via Kickstarter but relies primarily on severance pay, describing the process as ‘bootstrapped’ and free from corporate constraints.

Murray Pannell and Phil O’Connor, both veterans of major publishers like EA and 2K, co-founded Big Dumb Games in early 2026 after studio closures left them seeking alternatives. Their debut, the co-op space survival game *Starship Bloopers*, reflects their shift from AAA’s structured environments to self-driven development. Pannell notes the stark contrast between AAA’s support systems and indie’s reliance on personal expertise.

Both teams acknowledge the risks of indie development, including market saturation and financial instability, but prioritize creative fulfillment over wealth. Fischer defines success as sustainability and growth rather than profitability, while Pannell frames the move as a proactive response to industry volatility. The developers emphasize autonomy as a core motivator in navigating an unpredictable job market.