Dreamhaven: Empowering Indie Developers to Overcome Launch Challenges

In 2020, Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime established Dreamhaven, a novel developer and publisher boasting two internal studios and a partnership program tailored to support indie developers. Despite the typical four-year threshold for announcing or releasing products, Dreamhaven has successfully staffed its publishing team thanks to funding from Morhaime, his wife Amy, and external investment partners. The company has also recruited for its Moonshot and Secret Door studios, led by former Blizzard developers, with a total of 100 employees across all of Dreamhaven. Dreamhaven recently announced its first publishing title, Lynked: Banner of the Spark, developed by FuzzyBot Games, which will enter Early Access on Steam on October 22. Secret Door is set to announce its first title next month, followed by Moonshot. Morhaime attributes the delay in releasing games to the natural course of development. Dreamhaven's partnership program involves making strategic investments in studios while offering advisory services, leveraging the team's expertise to help developers overcome challenges. The program has fostered a community of independent developers who share knowledge and collaborate to support one another. Dreamhaven's primary objective is to create a healthy ecosystem for indie developers, whether through partnerships or publishing deals. The company emphasizes that studios participating in the partnership program are not obligated to use Dreamhaven's publishing services. Instead, Dreamhaven aims to help studios find the best possible publishing partner, even if it's not them. Paul Della Bitta, leading Dreamhaven's publishing efforts, highlights the importance of innovation in the gaming industry, often driven by independent developers. Dreamhaven points to Lynked: Banner of the Spark as a prime example, combining co-op action with town builder elements. FuzzyBot, formed during the pandemic by former Electronic Arts developers, sought to create a game that fills a gap in the market. CEO Tatyana Dyshlova explains that most cooperative games focus on action, leaving a niche for titles that appeal to less hardcore players. FuzzyBot aimed to create a game that blends the positivity of Animal Crossing with more action, facilitating playing together. While the market is increasingly competitive, FuzzyBot chose to partner with Dreamhaven due to the trust built during the partnership program. Dyshlova emphasizes that people, not brand names, are crucial when selecting a partner. Dreamhaven provided a viable future for the studio, with terms that went beyond just the game. The company's pedigree and constructive feedback also gave FuzzyBot confidence in their partnership. On Dreamhaven's side, Della Bitta says signing Lynked was an easy decision, given the team's impressive velocity and the natural fit with Dreamhaven's publishing capabilities. Morhaime concludes that Dreamhaven was founded to allow talented individuals to focus on their passions in partnership with experienced people, resulting in a unique and innovative gaming experience.