Why asking "what's the budget for your game?" doesn't make sense in 2026 | Opinion
Three years ago, we launched our Kickstarter campaign for Trash Goblin , our cosy shop sim. It was an existential moment for Spilt Milk Studios. Seventy-four publishers had turned down the game - one of them pulling out in the meeting that we thought was to sign the final publishing contract - but players seemed to love it. Read more
In 2026, asking "What is the budget for your game?" is no longer a sensible question for indie studios. Spilt Milk Studios, the developer behind the successful Kickstarter campaign for Trash Goblin, has found that funding sources have significantly evolved. Initially, crowdfunding accounted for only 10% of the game's budget, but it has since become a vital part of their overall funding strategy.
The studio also received support from the UK government, Prototype Fund, Content Fund, Video Game Tax Relief (VGTR) or VGEC, and Microsoft for Xbox. The surprising part is that crowdfunding was just a small portion of the total budget. The main takeaway is that the traditional model of relying on publishers for game funding is outdated.
Instead, Spilt Milk Studios has adopted a flexible development process, committing funds to specific milestones and adapting their plans based on player and market feedback. This approach allows them to control their own destiny and avoid dependence on a single source of funding. Gobble Inn, their upcoming game, will likely have a budget ranging from £250,000 to £2.5 million, depending on its development stage.
The studio believes this flexible funding model provides the best chance of survival and success in the ever-changing indie game market.
Written by urgent.news from GamesIndustry's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
