Freedom Games

About Freedom Games

Operating as a specialized platform for independent game developers, indie.io (formerly Freedom Games) functions as a game publisher focused on providing comprehensive support services. The company was founded in August 2020 by Donovan Duncan (CEO) and Ben Robinson (COO), both of whom are veterans of the video game and media industries. Their collective experience, including roles at Curse Inc., Twitch, and Fandom where they managed the Gamepedia wiki site, provided them with a ground-level view of the challenges faced by independent developers.

The firm's business model is centered on partnering with indie developers to handle the critical "last-mile" aspects of a game's release, such as marketing, distribution, and community engagement. This allows developers to concentrate on the core development of their games. In June 2024, the company rebranded from Freedom Games to indie.io to reflect an evolution into a full-service platform. The company's revenue model appears to be based on a revenue-sharing agreement with the developers it publishes. Indie.io serves independent game developers globally, helping them navigate a crowded market where discoverability on platforms like Steam is a significant hurdle.

Indie.io offers a suite of services tailored to the needs of its clients. This includes a development toolkit with resources for game testing and console porting, as well as in-house quality assurance (QA). A key part of its offering is marketing and promotion, where it provides expert guidance on public relations, community engagement, and advertising strategies from a game's announcement through its post-launch phase. The company leverages deep relationships with over 60 global partners to manage the complexities of game launches and distribution. Furthermore, it has launched platforms like wiki.gg to foster communities where developers and players can connect. In November 2022, the company secured approximately $10 million in a funding round led by Play Ventures, which was earmarked for hiring additional staff and expanding its developer platform and services.