When indie developers Chris Stair and Trevor Youngquist brought Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus to players, they faced unexpected uncertainty. Just as their game launched, publish partner Humble Games dismissed its entire staff, leaving critical tasks and communication in limbo. Far from home, Stair received the news while attending BitSummit in Kyoto. The sudden shift forced the duo, known as Squid Shock Studios, to rapidly adapt without their publisher’s resources to support the crucial early weeks of launch. Independent developers not only work on creative aspects but also rely on publisher expertise to thread their work into global markets.
Layoffs and instability in game publishing have occurred before, often forcing developers to look elsewhere for support or face tricky logistics alone. Humble Games, with its established connections and expertise, had positioned itself as a reliable ally for smaller studios. Previous launches usually benefited from such sustained backing, smoothing the path for new titles. The sudden halt in publisher activity for Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus stands out because the game retained positive momentum in the community despite these disruptions, largely thanks to alternative solutions pursued by Squid Shock Studios.
How Did the Publisher Layoffs Affect the Game’s Release?
Humble Games, owned by Ziff Davis, technically continues to exist, but following layoffs of all 36 employees, support effectively vanished. This absence left Bō’s developers managing distribution and updates nearly alone. The challenge compounded when essential contacts, tools for international launches, and press outreach were no longer directly accessible. Developers remained in control of only a limited part of distribution, notably the Steam backend. The uncertainty extended to financial and ownership questions, with Chris Stair expressing worries about unpaid dues and the future of the game.
Who Stepped in to Fulfill Humble’s Publishing Role?
To bridge the gap, consulting firm The Powell Group was brought in to cover remaining publishing responsibilities. However, the transition brought its own difficulties. Chris Stair voiced discomfort working with new contacts unfamiliar with the project’s background or studio workflow. As work continued, the original heads of Humble Games, having formed Good Games Group, took part in producing the game’s latest update, which helped to restore smoother collaboration.
“We had a Slack channel with everyone in it, and then you see them leaving one by one,”
Stair recalled, describing those uncertain moments during launch.
What Has Been the Market Response and Developers’ Next Steps?
Despite behind-the-scenes turmoil, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus achieved a “Very Positive” user rating on Steam, amassing over 1,000 reviews. The “Tanuki Kabuki” update, which introduced a boss rush mode, was both positively received and supported by a return to former collaborators. Stair acknowledged that the stressful period contributed to burnout but confirmed ongoing creative efforts with his co-developer.
“There’s always this thing in the back of my mind: If everything had gone, not ‘right,’ but just gone normally, how would it have been different? And that’s always something that eats away at me,”
he said, highlighting lingering doubts and ongoing reflection about how the launch might have unfolded under stable conditions.
Industry layoffs continue to leave wide-reaching effects, not just for those losing jobs but for partners and projects caught in the fallout. In Bō’s case, publisher layoffs created unforeseen barriers, testing the resilience of Squid Shock Studios and their ability to adapt quickly. As the developers continue to plan future projects, their experience serves as a reminder of the complex dependencies in game development. For indie studios, reliable publishing partners and clear communication lines often determine whether a launch stumbles or succeeds. The full story behind Bō’s release highlights the need for strong relationships and adaptable plans, especially in an industry facing heightened volatility. For developers and players interested in how indie games reach the market, reliable support networks and contingency strategies remain essential.
