The Art of Crafting Memorable Indie Showcase Events: A Look into Evil Empire's Success

In the realm of modern publishing, digital showcases have become an essential component. With numerous events catering to different segments, the Triple-i Initiative has emerged as a highly effective platform for indie games. Founded by French studio Evil Empire, the company behind the showcase also works on notable titles such as The Rogue Prince of Persia and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. Each year, they organize a 45-minute showcase in April, featuring a curated selection of games. The formula for success is straightforward: 90 minutes of gameplay, no hosts, and a flat participation fee of $15,000 per minute to cover operational costs. This approach has yielded impressive results, with data indicating it is one of the most effective digital showcases in terms of return on investment. In 2025, several games garnered over 100,000 wishlists within five days of the event, and 16 out of 40 featured games topped the trending charts on Steam. The 2026 installment also had a significant impact, according to Simon Carless of GameDiscoverCo. Behind the scenes, Evil Empire has developed a platform for developers to submit their games, which are then reviewed and rated by a team of six staff members. The lineup is carefully crafted to balance popular titles with lesser-known games that may appeal to the same audience. The goal is to create the perfect blend of games to attract the largest targeted audience possible. To achieve this, the team considers Valve as a key partner, working to secure a coveted front-page feature on the platform. The showcase is designed to create surprises and memorable moments, sometimes taking risks by featuring games from lesser-known developers. The team also provides guidance on trailer production, which is a unique aspect of their approach. By focusing on the elements that make a game compelling, they help developers create an emotional connection with their audience. The key metric for success is the ratio of views to wishlists, as this indicates the effectiveness of the marketing efforts. The company has no plans to expand the showcase, preferring to maintain its current format. This approach allows them to focus on delivering 'cool games' to players without feeling pressured to justify a larger budget or existence. As a developer and showcase organizer, Evil Empire faces the challenge of balancing its own game development with the demands of hosting a digital event. The studio has announced Castlevania: Belmont's Curse while finalizing the lineup for the Triple-I Initiative. Despite the chaos, being both a developer and a showcase organizer has its advantages. Through the Triple-I Initiative, Evil Empire met Blobfish, the studio behind Brotato, and collaborated on live-ops for the game. This experience has led to the establishment of a dedicated unit within Evil Empire for managing live-ops for other companies' games. The studio is keen to work with games that are later in their lifecycle, allowing the original developers to focus on new projects. However, Evil Empire must be passionate about the games they take on, as this enthusiasm is essential for a successful partnership. The company aims to be recognized as a trustworthy and caring partner for other studios' IPs. While Evil Empire has primarily worked on established IPs, they aspire to create their own original properties in the future. For now, they are focused on building a sustainable foundation and exploring options for original content. The studio is testing a few ideas but is not in a rush to start production. As they continue to work on IP from other companies and live-ops for older indie titles, Evil Empire remains committed to their genres of expertise.