Innersloth's Willard Says Indie Deals Are "Truly Abysmal"
Speaking at SLICE 2026, the Innersloth co-founder said he would not blame developers for taking bad deals but does blame those offering them.
Innersloth co-founder and programmer Forest Willard said many of the publishing and funding deals offered to indie developers are very bad, describing some as "truly abysmal." He spoke with Game Developer at SLICE 2026 in Seattle.
Willard, who oversees Innersloth's indie funding initiative Outersloth, said he has reviewed deals that other developers are signing. He said he would not blame developers for taking such deals, but does blame the people offering them.
He added that he has considered actively opposing these deals, and acknowledged that Outersloth can never be enough to fund all indie developers.
Willard discussed the fund in a fireside chat at SLICE alongside fellow Among Us creator Marcus Bromander, moderated by Ty Taylor.
Ongoing criticism of indie dealmaking
Over the last year, developers-turned-funders speaking to Game Developer have described the dealmaking environment for indie games in harsh terms. Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender said on the Game Developer Podcast that bad publishing deals violate the spirit of effective contracts.
Quick answers
What did Forest Willard say about indie publishing deals?
The Innersloth co-founder said he has reviewed deals other developers are signing and called some of them truly abysmal, blaming those offering the deals rather than the developers who accept them.
What is Outersloth?
Outersloth is Innersloth's indie funding initiative, overseen by co-founder and programmer Forest Willard.
Where did Willard make these comments?
He spoke with Game Developer at SLICE 2026 in Seattle, in a fireside chat with Marcus Bromander moderated by Ty Taylor.