UNIKAT is a brand new indie label based in Perth, Western Australia, focusing on bringing unique and minimal games to life while aiming to change old industry habits of working.
Founded by seasoned video games marketer Michal Napora, who has previously worked with studios such as Techland, Frogwares, and Bloober Team, UNIKAT’s first titles are the acclaimed minimalist horror experience POOLS, which WellPlayed awarded a 9 in our review, and the upcoming dark cosy cyberpunk chill city builder Dystopika, which has a release window of Q2 2024 on Steam.
On the label’s creation, Napora says that he’s noticed a shift in the industry over the past year and a bit, not only with how players access games and what they play but also how players and dev are treated and want to be treated, as well as what games can actually be.
“It feels like there is a new wave coming, a new wave of ideas, patterns, behaviours, and expectations. I feel that this change is a great thing. However, new changes cannot be supported by old industry habits. The old ways of doing business are dying. It’s 2024. Here’s to new ways of working with each other.”
UNIKAT will offer custom marketing, publishing, and business development services that Napora says are tailored to each game’s needs and won’t include any old industry tricks such as 70/30 splits or crazy recoups. “If we’re in this, we’re in this together,” states Napora.
Have you played POOLS or are keen to see what the future holds for UNIKAT? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Despite a childhood playing survival horrors, point and clicks and beat ’em ups, these days Zach tries to convince people that Homefront: The Revolution is a good game while pining for a sequel to The Order: 1886 and a live-action Treasure Planet film. Carlton, Burnley FC & SJ Sharks fan. Get around him on Twitter @tightinthejorts
