Prideful Sloth: Crafting Games That Touch Hearts

The release of Stardew Valley in 2016 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020 marked a significant shift in the gaming industry, with a surge in demand for wholesome games. However, Prideful Sloth, a Brisbane-based studio, was already exploring this genre, long before it became mainstream. Founded in 2015, Prideful Sloth has established itself as a "micro-AAA studio," leveraging the collective AAA experience of its team members to create unique, explorative, and cozy titles. Their successful games, such as Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and Grow: Song of the Evertree, have resonated with players worldwide. In an interview, John Northwood, director at Prideful Sloth, shared his insights on the studio's approach to game development. "We were inspired by Nintendo and Harvest Moon, and we wanted to create games that had heart," he said. "We didn't know what we were making at first, but we knew we wanted to create something different, something that would stand out from the crowd." Prideful Sloth is currently working on a new town-building sim, Go-Go Town, which is slated for release in 2024. The studio has adopted an open development model, releasing stable builds every two months and gathering feedback from the community. This approach has allowed the team to refine the game and make adjustments based on player input. Northwood emphasized the importance of community engagement and the need to be open to feedback. "We didn't capitalize on our community with our previous game, and we didn't know who our players were," he said. "This time, we're taking a different approach. We're engaging with our players, gathering feedback, and using that to shape the game." The studio's focus on sustainability is rooted in its location in Australia. "Brisbane is a great place to live and work," Northwood said. "The city has a thriving game development scene, and we're proud to be a part of it. We're self-reliant and sustainable, and we're focused on building a strong foundation for our studio." Prideful Sloth received funding from Screen Queensland in 2022, which has helped the studio to grow and expand its operations. However, Northwood emphasized the importance of not relying solely on state funding. "If you want to be profitable, you need to build slowly and sustainably," he said. The Brisbane game development scene has undergone significant changes in recent years. "Ten years ago, there were a lot of studios trying to break into the AAA market," Northwood said. "But the global financial crisis hit the industry hard, and many studios were forced to close. Today, there are a lot of mobile game developers and small AA studios, and the community is really tight-knit and supportive." When asked about the secret to Australian game development, Northwood smiled. "I think Australians are just a bunch of chill, laid-back people who are passionate about making games," he said. "We're a bit quirky, and we like to do things our own way. That's what makes our games unique and special."