From Solo Dev Horror Hit To Full Indie Publisher
Phasmophobia exploded onto the PC gaming scene back in 2020. What started as a spooky little co op horror game from a solo developer quickly turned into a massive Steam hit, selling over 25 million copies in early access and inspiring other co op horror favorites like REPO and Lethal Company.
That overnight success was a shock for creator Daniel Knight. Back then he was just one person building a scary ghost hunting game. Today that tiny project has grown into Kinetic Games, a studio of more than 30 developers. Phasmophobia is still going strong on Steam and has helped define a whole sub genre of co op horror that some people jokingly call friendslop.
Now the team behind Phasmophobia is taking the next big step. They are moving from just developing games to also publishing them under a new label called Kinetic Publishing.
For PC gamers this matters because it means more interesting indie titles could be coming to the platform, backed by a team that already understands what makes a great multiplayer PC experience.
What Is Kinetic Publishing And Who Is It For
Kinetic Publishing is a new indie game publishing label created by the Phasmophobia developers. After five years of learning the realities of indie development and navigating early access, Steam, and a huge player base, CEO Daniel Knight says it is time to use that experience to help other small studios.
The goal is not to become a massive corporate publisher. Instead the team wants to stay focused and selective. Kinetic Publishing plans to work with a small number of solo developers or small teams that have:
- A clear creative vision for their game
- A project that is already moving toward release within 12 to 18 months
- A need for support in areas like funding, marketing, and legal work
That time frame is important. It means Kinetic Publishing is looking for projects that are not just ideas on paper but real games that are already well into development. Their help is aimed at getting those games successfully over the finish line and into players hands on PC.
The label will provide several key types of support that many indies struggle with:
- Financial support to help keep development on track without forcing teams to rush or compromise their design
- Legal support for contracts, platform agreements, and all the boring but essential paperwork that comes with releasing a PC game
- Marketing support to actually get the game seen on crowded stores like Steam, which can often be harder than making the game itself
- Development guidance from a team that has already shipped and maintained a hugely popular early access title
Marketing and partnerships director Asim Tanvir explains that the mission is to join the ranks of supportive indie publishers that truly champion creativity. The idea is to let developers focus on what they do best making games while Kinetic helps them avoid common pitfalls and reach a wider audience.
There are also some hard lines they will not cross. Kinetic Publishing has made it clear that it is not interested in blockchain, web3, or AI generated games. That is a reassuring sign for many PC gamers who are tired of buzzword projects that focus more on speculation than on fun.
What This Means For Phasmophobia And PC Gamers
Whenever a successful studio announces a new side project, fans worry about the original game. In this case the team is trying to calm those fears early. Kinetic Publishing will be led by five senior team members including Daniel Knight. However the dedicated Kinetic Games development team will remain fully focused on Phasmophobia.
That means continued support, updates, and improvements for the ghost hunting co op horror title while a separate group handles the publishing side. For players who spend their nights creeping through haunted houses with EMF readers and spirit boxes, this is good news. The game that made Kinetic famous is not being abandoned to chase a new business model.
For the wider PC audience this move could be a win as well. Indie games drive a lot of the most interesting ideas on PC, especially in multiplayer and co op spaces. Phasmophobia itself is a great example of that. With Kinetic Publishing stepping in as a supporter and mentor for new teams, there is a solid chance we will see more unique co op and horror experiences emerging over the next few years.
Because the label is being selective and working with only a small slate of projects, it is likely that each game they pick up will get real attention rather than being lost in a huge catalogue. And since they are openly avoiding gimmicky blockchain or AI driven pitches, the focus is clearly on fun and creativity first.
If you enjoy digging into new indie PC games, especially anything that leans into atmospheric co op, horror, or experimental multiplayer ideas, Kinetic Publishing is a name worth keeping an eye on. Phasmophobia proved that a small team with the right idea can shake up the entire PC gaming scene. Now that same team is trying to help the next wave of developers do the same.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/phasmophobia-developer-announces-new-indie-publishing-label-were-now-in-the-place-where-we-want-to-support-studios-and-provide-the-support-id-have-appreciated-at-the-start-of-my-journey/
