"Every publisher I've talked to has brought up: 'So, have you thought about how AI might be able to save money on this?'"

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Game developer Brooke Burgess shares his 18-month struggle to secure $1.5 million in funding for his action-adventure game Fallen. Publishers are increasingly focusing on smaller investments under $500,000 across multiple micro-indie projects rather than larger single titles. Despite positive reception at pitch events and interest from publishers, Burgess faces hesitation due to his first-time director status and the current risk-averse funding climate. Publishers consistently ask about AI integration to reduce costs, leading Burgess to incorporate AI for localization, QA, and some art elements to lower his budget from $1.8 million to $1.5 million, though he remains skeptical of broader AI use in creative development.

Fallen creator Brooke Burgess on the struggle to get game funding above $1 million