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Press release:
Stockholm, 2 March 2020 – For an indie developer, attending GDC is a significant investment, not only on a financial level, but also with the time invested in travelling, preparing demos and pitches – all in hopes of meeting key partners, learning and sharing with industry peers. GDC’s postponement due to COVID-19 health concerns will strongly impact that investment.

To help alleviate that burden, new games label WINGS Interactive have teamed up with a host of companies in the games industry to create the GDC Relief Fund, already raising USD in the space of a few short days.

Supported developers will be selected according to the estimated impact of the postponement on their organisations and the financial hardship they are experiencing. Developers are invited to apply via the GDC Relief Fund website: http://wingsfund.me/gdcrelief

More sponsors are joining the cause, so far including:

Redbeet Interactive
Landfall
Raw Fury
Modern Wolf
Warhorse Studios
Versus Evil
11 bit studios
Those Awesome Guys
United Label
Triband
Makers Fund
gamedev.world
The Games and Online Harassment Hotline

“The postponement of GDC at such short notice is completely unprecedented, and we’ve been blown away by how quickly the games industry has come together to help independent game developers suffering hardship as a result,” said WINGS co-founder Cassia Curran.

“More companies are donating to the GDC Relief Fund all the time, and gamedev.world is moreover launching a fundraiser between March 27th and April 3rd with all donations going to the fund. Our hope is that the GDC Relief Fund will make it easier for individuals and small teams that have been disproportionately impacted to deal with the recent developments.”

Beyond the initial financial costs, GDC being postponed means missed opportunities for indie developers hoping to pitch their games. WINGS Interactive and certain fund partners are also offering online and distance meetings and pitch sessions. We are inviting indie developers to pitch via the application form at the GDC Relief Fund website or directly as follows:

– [email protected] for WINGS Interactive
– [email protected] for Raw Fury
– [email protected] for Modern Wolf
– [email protected] for Versus Evil
– [email protected] for 11 bit studios
– [email protected] for Those Awesome Guys
– [email protected] for United Label

WINGS would also like to highlight a new resource for impacted developers. The Games and Online Harassment Hotline is an upcoming free service, launching early to provide emotional support to developers in the United States affected by GDC’s cancellation. People can text SUPPORT to 23368 to get started with a trained hotline agent.

Key links & contact:
GDC Relief Fund: http://wingsfund.me/gdcrelief
Press contact: [email protected]

About WINGS Interactive:
WINGS Interactive is a new games label that finances games by diverse teams, starting with games made by women and gender minority developers. Selection for financing is carried out by a committee of international female and non-binary game developers with a proven track record. https://wingsfund.me/

About Redbeet Interactive:
Redbeet Interactive is a small but talented and passionate studio dedicated to delivering great experiences to our fantastic community. Since successfully launching our first title Raft into Early Access, we are still building it into a game we can proudly call 1.0! If you are looking for a new adventure, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, or if you have an amazing project you need funding for, we just might be the perfect fit! https://www.redbeetinteractive.com/

About Landfall Games:
Landfall Games is a game studio focusing on Gameplay and community interaction above all else. With both small development cycles and team size, they focus all of their efforts into creating games that are both fun to play and fun to develop. http://landfall.se/

About Raw Fury:
We publish games but there is more to it. Raw Fury is a passion project. We’re all about doing what makes us and the people we work with happy. We care about experiences and emotions. And we want to help developers make magic. https://rawfury.com/

About Modern Wolf:
Modern Wolf is a progressive publisher of video games, founded in 2019 by Fernando Rizo and Andreas Gschwari. Based in London, Modern Wolf works with game developers around the globe to bring you the weirdest and smartest indie games in the world. https://modernwolf.net/

About Warhorse Studios:
Warhorse Studios is a video-game developer founded in 2011 by a handful of intrepid Czech gaming industry veterans, now grown to a dedicated team of over 130 men and women. Our first title, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, a gritty, medieval, combat-based RPG set in a realistic historic environment, was released on February 13, 2018 and met with an enthusiastic reception from both critics and players worldwide. We are now a part of the leading video game publisher Koch Media/Deep Silver. www.warhorsestudios.cz

About the Games and Online Harassment Hotline:
The Games and Online Harassment Hotline is a free, text message-based, confidential emotional support hotline. Whether you’re a player, a developer, a streamer, a competitor — any part of the games community — we’re here for you. Text “SUPPORT” to 23368 from anywhere in the USA to chat with a trained hotline agent. gameshotline.org

About Versus Evil:
Founded in 2013, Versus Evil is the US based video game publisher behind critically acclaimed video games Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and The Banner Saga trilogy. Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with independent development studios from around the world. Most recent titles include RPG – collectible card game adventure hybrid Cardpocalypse, Yaga the role-playing folktale, and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The corporate philosophy is to champion independent games and the developers behind them. For more information visit https://versusevil.com

About 11 bit studios:
11 bit studios is a developer and game publisher known for their philosophy of creating meaningful entertainment. Understanding the tough situation these days, 11 bit studios joins the noble initiative to raise funds and relieve indie creators. Due to the fact that we won’t see each other @GDC this year, should you want to contact us to talk about games – drop us a line here: [email protected]

About Those Awesome Guys:
Founded by Nicolae (Xelu) Berbece, THOSE AWESOME GUYS is a small video game developing and publishing “studio” formed out of people from around the world with the purpose of being the developers and publishers we’d support as gamers. www.thoseawesomeguys.com

About United Label Games:
United Label is uniting innovative game creators from all around the globe. We strive to make any developer who joins United Label an integral part of the collective, fostering day-to-day support and growth. We want to create trustful long-term relationships with high rewarding returns. This all begins with four talented studios: Fallen Flag Studios, Lunaris Iris, Odd Bug Studios, and Polygon Treehouse. Our objective is to work with both highly experienced team and passionate upstarts, offering them a publishing structure for success. For more information about United Label Games, please visit www.unitedlabelgames.com

About Triband:
Makers of WHAT THE GOLF?, silly puns and bad jokes. Hanging out in Denmark, also we’re hiring: http://triband.net/hiring

About gamedev.world:
gamedev.world is the first truly global games conference, freely sharing the knowledge normally limited to expensive and exclusive games events through free, live-translated, online events. http://gamedev.world/

About Makers Fund:
A venture capital fund created to support founders by combining deep industry experience with multi-stage investment across Seed to Series B, Makers is dedicated to furthering growth and innovation in the global interactive entertainment industry. https://makersfund.com/

Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround