Itch.io

Itch.io is a website for users to host, sell and download indie games. Released in March 2013 by Leaf Corcoran, the service hosts nearly 100,000 games and items as of February 2018.

Itch.io
Screenshot
A screenshot of Itch.io in January 2016
Type of site
Video games, e-books, game assets
Available inEnglish
OwnerLeaf Corcoran
URLitch.io
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional (required to upload content, comment, and join game jams)
LaunchedMarch 3, 2013 (2013-03-03)[1]
Current statusOnline
Written inTypeScript, CSS, HTML, JavaScript,[2] MoonScript[3]

Itch.io also allows users to host game jams, events where participants have limited time (usually 1–3 days) to create a game. Game Off and Game Maker's Toolkit Game Jam have been hosted on Itch.io.

Due to the amount of freedom developers have on itch.io it is widely regarded as a good way for new game developers to practice creating games and get started making money from their games.

Itch.io's frequent game jams are also seen as a way for new game developers to get their name out there and improve their game developing skills.

History

On 3 March 2013, Leaf Corcoran posted a blog entry to the site leafo.net detailing what the website would be about, with a pay-what-you-want model. In an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Corcoran said the original idea was not a store but instead a place to "create a customized game homepage".[4] Its name comes from a spare domain that Corcoran had purchased a couple of years prior.[1]

As of June 2015, the service hosted over 15,000 games and programs.[5]

In December 2015, the service announced the release of a desktop application for installing games and other content, as well as keeping existing games and content updated automatically. It was released with simultaneous support for Windows, macOS, and Linux.[6] Today, the Itch app is recommended as "the best way to play your itch.io games".[7]

In support of the George Floyd protests, Itch.io organized the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality in June 2020.[8] It initially launched with over 700 games, but increased to over 1500 as additional developers offered to contribute.[9][10] In 11 days, the bundle raised $8.1M for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund.[11][12]

Revenue

The developer can charge money for the games they release onto the platform, and in May 2015, Itch.io paid developers US$51,489.[5] By default, the site takes a 10% cut from each sale,[13] but the developer can choose how much money the site will get per purchase.[14] The developer can set the lowest price for the game (including free), and the customer can pay above that minimum amount if they like the game they are purchasing.[15]

References
  1. Ww, Tim (1 December 2014). "Q&A: itch.io Interview with Leaf Corcoran". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  2. "itchio/itch". GitHub. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  3. "Team - itch.io". itch.io. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. Smith, Adam (23 April 2014). "The New Curiosity Shop: Itch.io Interview". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  5. Maiberg, Emanuel (23 June 2015). "Itch.io Is the Littlest Next Big Thing in Gaming". Vice. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. "Say hello to the itch.io app: itch". Itch.io. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  7. "Itch app on GitHub". github.com. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  8. "Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality by itch.io and 1391 others". itch.io. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  9. Fingas, Jon (8 June 2020). "Itch.io offers 700 games in a pay-what-you-want racial justice bundle". Engadget.
  10. Statt, Nick (11 June 2020). "Itch.io's amazing 1,500-game charity bundle surpasses $5 million goal". The Verge.
  11. Yin-Poole, Wesley (16 June 2020). "Itch.io Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality ends with a stunning $8.1m raised". Eurogamer.
  12. Cryer, Hirun (2020-06-16). "Itch.io's Racial Justice and Equality Bundle Ends With Over $8.1 Million Raised". USgamer. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  13. Cameron, Phill (23 March 2015). "Itch.io launches open revenue sharing". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  14. Nutt, Christian (16 September 2014). "Game jams aside, Itch.io's doing brisk business distributing games". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  15. Sinclair, Brendan (24 March 2015). "Itch.io lets developers dictate revenue share". Gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
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