Netspeak Games: Empowering Cozy Players to Become Co-Creators

When Netspeak Games was established in 2021, the development team had not yet determined the type of game they wanted to create. "We had a clear vision of developing a multiplayer game that would be cross-platform and utilize Unreal Engine," CEO Callum Cooper-Brighting stated in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. "These were the primary constraints that guided our development process." Despite these constraints, the studio did not instinctively arrive at the concept of a "cozy game" like their debut title, Sunshine Days. "After conducting extensive market research and interviews, we decided to focus on a mobile-first approach, with a casual yet mid-core feel," he explained. "Our ultimate goal was to create a safe online space where people could come together, share common interests, and celebrate their unique differences. We aimed to create a highly accessible environment that offered meaningful gameplay and facilitated social connections." The CEO acknowledged that games like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Dreams inspired the user options within Sunshine Days. "These games demonstrate that when you create a relaxing, accessible, and wholesome world that values players' time, it fosters an environment where players want to express themselves. By giving players a sense of control, we witnessed them become incredibly creative and dedicated," he added. According to the executive, the most significant challenge in game development was adapting the game to create a more welcoming experience for players. Cooper-Brighting elaborated, "The most significant challenges are always related to onboarding and setting expectations with our audience about the world we have created. Initially, we would introduce players to social spaces immediately, similar to traditional MMOs. However, we quickly realized that this approach could be overwhelming and stressful." "Currently, we introduce the game's multiplayer aspects gradually, allowing players to set their own pace and ensuring that their first interaction with another player is always positive." While Netspeak Games focuses on providing a positive user experience, the studio also aims to expand Sunshine Days' user base and differentiate itself from other cozy titles. One of these efforts involves releasing Sunshine Days on PC, and another is introducing a creation mode within the PC version. This feature enables players to customize homes and share them with each other. "We wanted to provide players with more control and creative expression, and PC was the natural choice. We prioritize maintaining a unified community, allowing PC and mobile players to play together and benefit from the tools," he added. "In the future, we may consider bringing creator features to other platforms, including those beyond mobile. As a small team running an MMO, we must be cautious about the scope of our projects." The introduction of creator mode on PC also serves as a test for the studio. "Currently, the game is primarily composed of spaces we built for players, but over the next twelve months, we aim to shift the balance so that players spend more time in spaces they created," Cooper-Brighting stated. "Creator mode is a crucial part of this strategy. Whenever we introduce features that enable player creativity, we see players embrace them enthusiastically. We are committed to supporting this creative freedom." The Netspeak Games CEO emphasized that while a PC version of Sunshine Days will likely expand the user base, it will not become the studio's primary platform of focus. He reaffirmed that Netspeak is a mobile-first game developer and may consider console releases in the future. "Our broader vision for Sunshine Days is to create a world that players want to spend time in," he explained. "This involves providing players with tools to build and shape their own experiences. Our content roadmap and release schedule are designed to deliver on this promise, and over the past few years, we have come to realize the importance of viewing players as collaborators rather than consumers." Just as the company conducted market research before deciding to develop a cozy game, Cooper-Brighting stated that Netspeak does not make decisions about content updates and development roadmaps without careful consideration. "We maintain a close relationship with our community through Discord and continue to conduct research to understand what our players are looking for," Cooper-Brighting stated. "Our content roadmap is well-defined, delivering core game content and a calendar of live events. Our update history demonstrates the significant amount of content our team has delivered." The cozy game market is highly competitive, with over 70 titles showcased at the Wholesome Games Direct in June. Despite the challenges of standing out, Netspeak's CEO remains unconcerned, focusing instead on maintaining and growing the player base. He explained, "The market for multiplayer games has expanded beyond combat and competition, and we believe this proliferation of genres indicates a strong market appetite. As a business, we focus on players, not other games. As players ourselves, we are excited to have so many options to choose from." When asked about the future of cozy games, Cooper-Brighting expressed confidence in the genre's longevity and growth. "The game market is highly diverse and continues to expand. We believe the most significant shift in the gaming industry is a change in how we think about player needs, recognizing that safe, accessible, and cozy experiences cater to a genuine set of audience needs."