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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA strong indie-game pitch makes three things clear: what makes the game distinct, why your team can deliver it, and what specific support you need to reach the next milestones. Show the game with concise footage and, when available, a playable build; tie your funding request to a budget and realistic production roadmap; then tailor the submission to the recipient’s current criteria. A general pitch deck is a starting point, not a substitute for the route-specific application.
Build a pitch that answers the recipient’s key questions
Your pitch should make it easy for a publisher, investor, fund, or platform program to understand both the game and the case for supporting it. Keep the presentation focused, and have fuller budget and production materials ready if the recipient asks for them. The sources cited here do not establish a universal slide count or meeting length.
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Explain the game’s identity
Describe the core experience in plain language: what the player does, what makes the game recognizable, and what distinguishes it beyond a comparison with another title. Then explain why this team is particularly suited to make it. In a May 22, 2025 Unity interview, game entrepreneur Dino Patti emphasized the importance of the team, genre, and twist, as well as the project’s visual packaging. He also said that having people on the team who have delivered relevant work can add significant value. Treat this as advice from an experienced entrepreneur, not as a guarantee of what any particular recipient will prioritize.
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Show the game, not just the idea
Include a short gameplay video or trailer that demonstrates the experience quickly. Add a playable build or demo when the game’s stage makes that practical, and make every link easy to find and access. Requirements vary: Devolver Digital requests a gameplay video and a deck URL that includes a demo link, while IGDC’s Investor–Publisher Connect asks for gameplay footage or a trailer and a playable build where available.
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Make the execution case
Name the people responsible, their relevant experience or shipped work, and the remaining work needed to complete the game. Show how the team will deliver it, rather than relying on enthusiasm alone. A production schedule should make the major development steps and dependencies understandable to someone outside the studio.
State the ask and what it buys
Specify the amount or kind of support you are seeking and what it will fund. Connect the request to development milestones, a budget, and an estimated release window. If you need more than financing—such as marketing, distribution, or strategic access—say so explicitly. Devolver’s form asks developers to explain what they want from a publisher and to provide requested funds; Outersloth asks for a budget and production schedule.
Explain why this recipient fits
Make the connection between your game and the recipient’s audience, portfolio, platform, or support model concrete. For example, Microsoft’s ID@Xbox guidance asks applicants to identify the program they are seeking and explain why their game fits. A generic claim that your game is a good match does not answer that question; show the relevant audience, platform, or project characteristics.
Choose a route that matches your game and needs
The routes below are examples, not endorsements or interchangeable offers. Eligibility, geography, platform, project stage, timing, and the kind of support available differ. Check each official page before applying, especially where a form or deadline may change.
| Route | What the published guidance says | What to prepare or check |
|---|---|---|
| Direct publisher submission: Devolver Digital | Its submission form requests game and studio details, location, estimated release date, a quick pitch, gameplay video, a deck URL with demo, financial roadmap, requested publisher support, requested funds, and optional additional documents. The form says it considers games aiming to release next year and beyond. | Prepare the requested materials and check the live form’s timing criteria before submitting; they can change. |
| Platform opportunity: ID@Xbox | Microsoft says a registered developer with an approved game concept can submit a pitch through the Xbox Partner Dashboard. The pitch covers the program sought, why the game fits, game information, and studio information. Microsoft reviews it and decides whether to continue discussions about possible funding opportunities. | Registration and an approved concept are prerequisites in the published guidance. A pitch does not guarantee funding. Microsoft’s page was last updated August 7, 2026. |
| Indie fund: Outersloth | Outersloth describes hands-off recoup-and-revenue-share financing rather than full-service publishing. Its page requests a pitch deck with a budget, production schedule, developer or studio name, and game name; a build or demo is optional. It mostly seeks unreleased premium PC, console, or mobile projects and excludes blockchain, web3, and AI-generated games. | The page states a likely funding range of $50,000–$2 million, while also saying applicants may submit outside it. This is not an offer or guarantee. Review the fund’s current criteria and contract terms. |
| Matchmaking event: IGDC Investor–Publisher Connect | The 2026 event is aimed at Indian studios and independent developers with original games across platforms. Selection criteria include quality and originality, development stage, commercial potential, team capability, fit with participants, and supporting materials. The event describes curated one-on-one meetings and five-minute fast pitches. | Applying does not guarantee curated meetings. The event page lists October 10, 2026 as the submission close; as of October 8, 2026, that deadline is two days away. Confirm that applications remain open and verify the deadline directly. |
| Funding and investor portal: Xsolla Funding | Xsolla describes a portal and live or online pitch events connecting studios with investors and publishers. It says it accepts studios of different sizes, stages, platforms, and revenue models; an Alpha+ application route includes a marketing plan and completed creative assets. | Xsolla’s page claims that “1 in 10” applicants connects with an investor or publisher. This is a company-published claim, not an independently established probability for an individual studio. |
Prepare route-specific submissions
Before sending a deck or build, check the recipient’s current application instructions and make a tailored version of your pitch. A clear submission should answer the recipient’s actual questions in the order it asks them, rather than making reviewers search through a general presentation.
- Confirm eligibility and timing: check geography, platform, game type, development stage, release window, and whether the application is open.
- Use the requested format: provide the form fields, links, documents, and build access the route asks for.
- Make the core evidence accessible: test the gameplay video, demo, or build link and ensure it opens without unnecessary friction.
- Match the ask to the route: distinguish a funding request from a request for publishing, distribution, marketing, or other support.
- Be ready for follow-up: keep your detailed budget and milestone plan available, and expect that a submission may not lead to a meeting or further discussion.
Evaluate the offer, not the label
“Investment,” “funding,” and “publishing” do not by themselves tell you what a deal entails. Compare the proposed contribution with the obligations and rights in the actual agreement. The sources reviewed do not establish standard publisher percentages or universal deal terms; Outersloth describes its general model as recoup-and-revenue-share financing, but the contract governs each specific arrangement.
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- Amount offered, payment schedule, and milestone conditions.
- How recoupment works and how revenue is shared.
- Rights granted, including territory, platform, and duration.
- Specific marketing, distribution, or other commitments.
- Reporting obligations and approval rights.
- Cancellation or termination terms, and what happens if costs or schedules change.
Do not compare offers on headline funding alone. A larger amount may come with different payment conditions or rights, while support described as publishing may or may not include the services your team needs. Read the contract’s definitions and obligations carefully before deciding.
What the available figures can—and cannot—tell you
Unity’s May 22, 2025 profile reports that Dino Patti had raised more than $25 million across multiple companies and had pitched to publishers, investors, governments, and platform holders. That is biographical context, not a typical fundraising outcome or a forecast for another studio. Likewise, Xsolla’s “1 in 10” applicant-connection figure is its own published claim and should not be treated as an individual applicant’s odds.
The cited sources do not establish a cross-industry pitch success rate, universal funding amount, standard revenue share, or generally applicable deck length. Those details depend on the recipient, project, and proposed agreement.
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