Finding Balance Between Artistic Vision and Gaming Innovation at Kepler Interactive

Kepler Interactive has established itself as a publisher with a diverse portfolio, comprising games like Tchia, which draws inspiration from New Caledonia, and the survival horror game Scorn, known for its unsettling visuals. The company's creative studio facilitates collaboration with various art and cultural mediums. In an interview, CEO Alexis Garavaryan discussed the recent partnership with French indie video game studio Tactical Adventures, the process of discovering and evaluating new game developers, and the challenges facing the gaming industry. When asked about the common thread among Kepler Interactive's games, Garavaryan explained that the company looks for projects with bold art direction and innovative game design, often influenced by various forms of art, culture, and experience beyond the gaming world. This approach allows for a diverse portfolio, with games like Tchia, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Pacific Drive, each drawing from unique inspirations. Regarding the partnership with Tactical Adventures, Garavaryan emphasized the importance of aligning with Kepler Interactive's values and contributing to the group's collective knowledge and expertise. With Solasta, Tactical Adventures brings a fresh approach to the RPG genre, blending tabletop gaming elements with rich storytelling traditions. Kepler Interactive aims to support the studio while learning from their ideas and expertise. The company's approach to Early Access releases is flexible, allowing studios to tailor their launch plans according to their needs. Garavaryan noted that Tactical Adventures has had success with the early access model for Solasta: Crown of the Magister. In terms of discovering new titles, Kepler Interactive employs a multi-faceted approach, leveraging personal networks, events, and online platforms to find exciting projects. The company prioritizes games that fit their creative values, often passing on good projects that don't align with their vision. When evaluating potential signings, Kepler Interactive looks for games that avoid common tropes and instead offer unique atmospheres and influences. The company is wary of projects that rely too heavily on familiar influences, such as Star Wars or Greek mythology, and instead seeks games that can help build a distinct identity. Kepler Ghost, the company's white label service, allows them to support studios while enabling developers to maintain creative control and recognition. Garavaryan emphasized the importance of this approach, as it reflects the company's philosophy of prioritizing the creators' work and ideas. The creative studio aspect of Kepler Interactive is also crucial, as it enables the company to explore the intersection of games with other cultural and creative spaces. This is evident in collaborations like the one with Robyn Lynch, which demonstrates the company's willingness to experiment and challenge perspectives. Looking ahead to the next five years, Garavaryan believes that the gaming industry will face significant challenges, including geopolitical changes and the need for aggressively different designs. He views derivative ideas as a thing of the past and emphasizes the importance of proposing radically innovative concepts to players. As for his workday, Garavaryan typically spends his free time playing the latest game builds, experiencing other forms of culture, and exploring new ideas and inspirations.