Indie Game Joe

Game Devs! Wider store pages + MP4/WEBM support in descriptions.

☑ 1200px-wide store pages (main col 780px)
☑ MP4/WEBM now supported in descriptions
☑ GIFs auto-converted for smaller file sizes
☑ New image/video alignment tools

Opt-in via Steam client beta to see changes

#gamedev #indiegamedev

Steamworks Development - Steam Trailer Player Upgrades - Steam News Today’s Steam update introduces a new video player for trailers on store pages

Steam is really smashing it out of the park with updates recently. I love to see it! store.steampowered.com/news/group/4...

🚨 Game devs! BREAKING!

Steam just upgraded the Trailer Player

- Better quality & playback
- Most trailers auto-upgraded
- Pre-2020 uploads? Re-upload for best quality
- 4:3 & vertical now fully supported
- Missing source files now flagged in Steamworks

Full changelog 👇

#gamedev #indiedev

Going viral is the exception, not the rule. Most games grow step by step, not overnight. The goal isn’t one big moment. It’s to get better each time you post, to see what connects, to keep going, and to know when to pivot or try something new.

If you are an indie dev posting about your game, here is something nobody tells you.

It is not the algorithm’s job to make people care. It is your job.

The algorithm only reflects what resonates with people. If your content is not clear or interesting, they will scroll.

#gamedev #indiedev

Game devs: You don’t have to post daily.

- But you do have to post consistently.
- Pick a pace you can sustain.

One post a week beats disappearing for months. Your future players can’t support a project they never see.

#gamedev #indiedev

Game devs, here's a little tip. Marketing does not have to feel gross or scary.

- Think of it as sharing your excitement.
- If you’re genuinely proud of what you made, talk about it like it matters, because it does!

Someone out there wants exactly what you are building!

#gamedev #indiedev

Indie game devs, nobody wakes up hoping to find your game.

Your job is to make them care by showing them something they did not know they needed.

Consistency beats perfection. Marketing isn’t magic. It’s showing up. Repeatedly.

#gamedev #indiegamedev

If you’d like more free marketing advice like this, feel free to subscribe to my blog:
👉 indiegamejoe.com/blog/ (7/7)

This is a common one that I notice a lot.
Don’t fade to black between clips.
Hard cuts keep momentum.
Every fade is a chance to lose attention. (6/7)

Don’t stick on one angle or one scene too long.
Quick cuts between different mechanics keep curiosity high. (5/7)

Always test your trailer on someone who’s never seen your game. If they can’t describe what it is after watching it once, you’re not clear enough. (4/7)

Remember, most people watch with the sound off.
If your video doesn’t make sense on its own, they might keep scrolling.

Captions can help, but the gameplay has to do most of the work. (3/7)

Cut everything that doesn’t grab attention.
No 30-second intros. No lore dumps.
You have one chance to hook curiosity. Make it count. (2/7)

Lead with your weirdest mechanic.
If your game does something nobody else does, show that first. Not the logo. Not the menu. The moment that makes people say “Wait, what?” (1/7)

Game devs, I know this may sound harsh, but players don't care that your game took 5 years to make.

They care if it looks fun in 5 seconds.

Your job isn’t to tell your whole story upfront. It’s to show the one thing that stops them from scrolling. The rest comes later. 🧵

#gamedev #indiegamedev

Game dev isn’t just “make a game.”It’s:

- Doubt
- Learning 12 jobs
- Sleepless nights
- Testing something 50 times just to break it again
- And still choosing to do it the next day.

That’s love. We make games because it's what we love to do. Keep going, keep learning!

#gamedev #indiegamedev

‪If you’d like to see more game dev marketing tips, feel free to follow me bsky.app/profile/indi...

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your game and your journey. You’ve got this!

Remember, the real goal is to learn what makes you stop and engage, then apply that to your own content.

The more aware you are as a viewer, the better you’ll be as a creator.

Hope this helped, devs. Thanks for reading! (9/9)

So, start a note on your phone or computer.

And every time you stop scrolling for a video, write down why. Do this for a week. You’ll start building your own content playbook. (8/9)

The algorithm is brutal, yes.

But understanding your own habits is a powerful, underused tool.

Marketing your game doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes, it starts by watching what makes you stop. (7/9)

You don’t need a huge budget to make great content.
You need awareness of your audience, and of yourself as a viewer.

Scroll consciously. Learn from it.
Then create content that deserves that pause (6/9)

Ask yourself before posting:

- Am I showing the best part up front?
- Will someone feel something watching this?
- Is the audio doing anything for me?
- Is this scroll-stopping?

Your content should grab attention the same way others grab yours. (5/9)

You’ll start to notice patterns.

- Maybe it's the sound design that hooks you.
- Maybe it’s a cozy vibe, a surprising moment, or something instant, like a clean animation, a clever mechanic, or a striking visual

Whatever grabs you, use that insight in your own content. (4/9)

Try this experiment:

Next time you're scrolling, pay attention.
- What makes you stop?
- What grabs your eye or ear?
- What do you scroll right past?
- Is it sound? A bold visual? A strong caption? An emotional moment?

Write it down. Seriously. (3/9)

You’re not so different from the people you want to reach.

How often do you scroll through social media, watching memes, trailers, gameplay, and random content?

Have you ever actually stopped to ask:
- Why did I skip that video?
- Why did I stop for this one? (2/9)

Indie devs often ask:
“How do I get more eyes on my game?”
“How do I cut through the noise?”

The answer isn’t always “more hashtags” or “post at X time.” Sometimes, it’s as simple as thinking like a viewer. (1/9)

Game devs, what I’m about to tell you is so simple, but it can completely change how people engage with your content.

If you're struggling to get more views on your gameplay videos or content, read this. It's not an algorithm hack, but it will help you make better content. 🧵

#gamedev #indiedev

I get where you're coming from, but I think you've kind of illustrated the point. The post isn’t about devs literally saying “our game is fun,” but about how often marketing leans on vague messaging instead of showing what makes the game unique, who it's for, and what makes it feel fun to play.

Marketing tip for game devs: Stop saying “our game is fun.”

Start showing:
✅ What makes it different (hook)
✅ What makes it feel fun
✅ Who it’s for

And show it in the first 3 seconds of your trailer!

#gamedev #indiegamedev