Mike Rose, the founder of the publishing company No More Robots, explained its approach to indie publishing, shared what developers should think about when partnering with a publisher, and discussed his views on the future of the scene.

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Mike Rose, founder of indie publisher No More Robots, shares his philosophy on signing games, what developers should watch out for in publisher deals, and his bleak outlook for the indie market in 2026. He favors novel concepts over genre copycats, values developer personality alongside game quality, and typically signs projects at the concept or vertical slice stage. On the business side, he warns developers to ensure they won't be left in a bad financial position post-launch. He notes the current market is the worst he's seen in 15 years, driven by economic pressures pushing gamers toward fewer, bigger titles. Steam remains the dominant PC platform with no meaningful competition in sight, while demos are emerging as a key discoverability tool. His outlook for 2026 is pessimistic, expecting continued hard times for publishers and developers alike.

No More Robots on Indie Publishing & Strategy