Last week, indie publisher Critical Reflex held its annual showcase, highlighting a variety of unique titles including Altered Alma. Developed by Barcelona-based 2Awesome Studio, the game is described as a cyberpunk-infused Metroidvania and represents the studio's largest project to date. As development nears completion, co-founder Alexander Santiago expressed optimism regarding the title's upcoming launch, citing strong wishlist numbers and positive reception at events like Steam Next Fest and the curated Indie Arena at Gamescom.
The journey for Altered Alma began in 2023, a period Santiago notes was characterized by an industry focus on massive projects and budgets. Despite these trends, the team pursued this ambitious open-world Metroidvania, which required significant effort due to its scope and team size. The project's financial backing came from a Kickstarter campaign launched in 2024 that initially sought €40,000 but ultimately raised over €260,000 from more than 5,100 backers.
Since its founding in 2014, 2Awesome Studio has maintained operations through a mix of funding sources, including government grants, loans, publisher support, and multiple successful crowdfunding campaigns. Prior to Altered Alma, the studio released Dimension Dive in 2017 after raising nearly €37,000, followed by AK-xolotl in 2023, which secured over €132,000 against a €15,000 goal. To sustain operations between major titles, the studio also engages in outsourcing and co-development, a practice Santiago describes as essential for keeping the lights on rather than a core business focus.
The team's reputation in the outsourcing sector grew organically after they decided to handle ports in-house for their first game to gain technical expertise. This led to collaborations such as porting Othercide to Switch for Focus Home Interactive, with word-of-mouth becoming their primary driver for securing new contracts. Santiago emphasizes that their ability to deliver on promises consistently has been a unique asset in the industry.
Looking ahead, 2Awesome plans to continue the Altered Alma franchise with a sequel that features a more focused scope, aligning with current industry trends favoring smaller budgets and games that excel at specific mechanics. While the studio is planning for the next two to three years, Santiago admits there is no universal blueprint for running an indie studio. "I wish I had the formula," he stated, noting that they are currently gauging the market to fit their knowledge into both smaller and larger project landscapes as more small teams achieve significant success.
Sources: GamesIndustry.biz.