Ghost Ship Sets Sail in Publishing

The decision by Ghost Ship Games to establish a publishing label was a gradual yet sudden process. Following the success of their co-op shooter Deep Rock Galactic, the company had been playing a supportive role in the Danish games industry, investing in developers and considering whether to publish other studios' games. Lundgaard explains that their experience with Steam Early Access and games-as-a-service, as well as their success with Deep Rock Galactic, led to other developers seeking their expertise and potential publishing support. The company eventually decided to establish its own publishing label, Ghost Ship Publishing, which has announced three titles so far, all from Danish developers. The label is open to working with studios from around the world and is focusing on smaller indie titles, with budgets ranging from €500,000 to €3 million. The company's debut title, Deep Rock Galactic, has been a significant success, selling 5.5 million units as of the end of 2022, with 2.3 million copies sold in 2022 alone. Lundgaard attributes this success to the game's retention mechanics, regular updates, and the company's willingness to listen to player feedback. The game's inclusion in subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus has also been a positive experience for the company, with no drop in sales after entering these services. Ghost Ship is committed to helping the Danish games sector, which is currently experiencing growth and change. The company is working to support smaller studios and developers, and Lundgaard believes that the industry needs better organization, more political support, and recognition as a significant industry. The goal of Ghost Ship's publishing arm is to replicate the successful collaboration the company had with its own publisher, Coffee Stain, by providing transparent and supportive services to developers, allowing them to bring their passion projects to life.