Physical games publisher 33 Games and game studio Beyond The Pixels have announced The Forever Project initiative, a new self-service site where indie developers and publishers can create and produce physical releases for their games.
The Forever Project will give indie developers and publishers a way to create physical copies (and therefore premium editions) of their games. With 33 Games’ experience with manufacturing and physical publishing and Beyond The Pixels’ experience creating and launching original IP and building communities for them, the initiative gives indies a whole new way to create games.
Plus, with the self-service site, it takes out the high cost and complexity that would generally come with creating physical media.
Indie developers and publishers will be able to create these physical editions for PC and Mac using a USB Cartridge package. There are also options for different packaging, instruction booklets, and accessories like trading cards.
Additionally, they’ll be able to decide how many copies to make, and they’ll retain all ownership of their games.
The digital gaming industry is growing more and more every day, which makes it harder for indie games to stand out. Plus, players still want physical media (despite what Sony is trying to push with ending physical PlayStation 5 discs). In fact, Beyond The Pixels recently raised 156% of its funding for its Kickstarter campaign for the physical edition of Astro Burn.
The Founder and CEO of Beyond The Pixels, HaZ Dulull, shared their thoughts on The Forever Project:
“We want to bring back a time when buying a game was more than just a transaction, it was an experience. Opening the box, flipping through the manual, admiring the artwork, and holding the cartridge in your hands made every game feel special.
Physical games create lasting memories. They become collectibles you can proudly display, share with friends, and keep forever—something digital simply can’t replicate.
Today’s indie developers are creating some of the most original and exciting games in the industry, much like the creative explosion of the 1990s. Whether self-published or working with an indie publisher, they deserve the opportunity to turn their games into beautiful physical editions that players can truly own forever.”
Additionally, 33 Games CEO Steven Charles also had comments to share:
“Independent developers face an increasingly difficult challenge standing out in Today’s digital marketplaces, where storefronts have become the primary route to market.
Our partnership with Beyond The Pixels changes that by making premium physical publishing accessible to indie developers. It gives them the freedom to sell directly to their community, at events, and through new retail opportunities.
More importantly, it puts control back into the hands of creators, giving them new revenue opportunities while allowing their games to be experienced as the premium physical products they deserve to be.”
