Vampire Survivors Developer Poncle Announces Over 15 Games in Development, Including Two Original IPs and “Luca’s Yachts Are Video Games”

Vampire Survivors: A Phenomenal Success Story

Since its release in 2022, Vampire Survivors has made a remarkable impact in the gaming world, selling over one million copies within just a few months and earning the prestigious Best Game award at the BAFTAs. The game’s developer, Poncle, has expanded its portfolio significantly, now not only publishing titles like Kill the Brickman but also developing a spin-off titled Vampire Crawlers and launching multiple DLC updates for the original game. With player numbers exceeding 27 million, Poncle is driving forward with over 15 games currently in development, including two entirely new intellectual properties.

Insight from Poncle’s CEO

A recent interview conducted by The Game Business featuring Matteo Sapio, CEO of Poncle, shed light on the studio’s evolution from an indie venture spearheaded by solo developer Luca Galante into a prominent player in the industry. Sapio shared how the game originated as a personal project for Galante and rapidly transitioned into a commercial hit, stating, “Vampire Survivors exploded, and in two or three months, it sold more than one million copies.”He humorously noted, “Luca’s yachts are video games, ” highlighting how Galante reinvested his success into the game’s development, such as the free Emerald Beyond DLC created in collaboration with Square Enix.

Future Projects and Development Strategy

Poncle has structured its upcoming projects into three main categories, as outlined by Sapio:

Spin-off games, such as Vampire Crawlers
New original intellectual properties, with two in active development
‘Survivors’ games based on existing IPs, like Warhammer Survivors

The majority of Poncle’s forthcoming titles will likely come from these spin-off and licensed categories. The studio often collaborates with established IP holders, developing games under their guidance. Sapio elaborated, “Survivors seems very simple, with basic graphics. But it’s actually quite complicated.”When engaging with complex IPs, such as Warhammer 40K, Poncle is cautious to stay true to the source material, which is why they’ve developed the Vampire Survivor Engine, allowing other studios to create their own ‘Survivors’ style games while leveraging their knowledge.

Expansion and Collaboration

Sapio also addressed Poncle’s strategic expansion by establishing new studio branches in both Japan and Italy. He emphasized, “We are not talking about a gigantic remote studio. We see it as a federation of studios, ” suggesting a focus on smaller, agile teams of about five to fifteen individuals. This structure aims to nurture creativity and maintain the essence of indie development, which is characterized by freedom and the willingness to take risks.

Current Status and Future Prospects

Despite its growth, Poncle has decided to pause its publishing activities to concentrate on the three project categories mentioned earlier. Sapio reflected on previous publishing efforts as a “learning experience, ”acknowledging that the studio could not provide the necessary support for those titles, leading them to temporarily step back from publishing obligations.

In summary, Poncle’s trajectory since the success of Vampire Survivors has been nothing short of extraordinary. Fans and followers alike are eager to witness the unveiling of its upcoming projects, particularly the new IPs that promise to expand the creative landscape of indie gaming.

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