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Session Name:

From Project Operator to 'The Operator': Postmortem of Supporting a Solo Dev to Find Launch Success

Overview:

A data-driven post-mortem presentation of The Operator's self-publication journey, and how a year-long marketing campaign helped solo studio Bureau 81 achieve a critically acclaimed and commercially successful launch for their first title. With a modest $50,000 marketing budget, attendees can learn how the game achieved over 340,000 wishlists, 120,000+ unit sales, and $1.3M in Steam revenue. Discover the key tactics used, including funding, store page and trailer development, media outreach, custom review kits, and strategic event participation. Finally, explore the impact of its post-launch opportunities like Steam's Daily Deal, Epic Games partnership, its Switch release, and the challenges of indie marketing in a competitive landscape.

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