He left his job at Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed to make a very strange and beautiful strategy game

Darenn Keller, former designer at Ubisoft known for his work on the Assassin’s Creed and Ghost Recon series, decided to leave the company to pursue his own creative vision by developing his independent game, Dawnfolk. This decision emerged during a time of isolation that many experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Keller felt the need for greater control over his work.

A game of building different cities

Dawnfolk, a city-building game with survival elements and puzzles, has achieved a remarkable 94% positive reviews on Steam and has sold 26,000 copies, allowing Keller to sustain his career as an independent developer. “It’s a small success that has allowed me to continue as a developer,” he notes. Despite its moderate success, Keller acknowledges that working alone can be both motivating and challenging, especially regarding decision-making and business management.

To finance the launch of Dawnfolk, Keller turned to a publisher, who provided him with a financial cushion. However, there are questions about whether self-publishing might have been a better alternative. Looking ahead, the developer wants to create smaller and faster games, aiming to complete his next project, currently titled B-Type: Space Builder, in a year or a year and a half.

Keller intends for his games to maintain elements of strategy, but with a focus on experiences that are accessible and fun. “I’m not looking to achieve the complexity of games like Civilization. I want to make simple games with a bit of strategy,” he comments. As he progresses in his career, he hopes to continue sharing his experience with other developers, highlighting the importance of small victories in the gaming industry.

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