Firestoke is shutting down after exhausting its financial resources

Firestoke, an independent game publisher from Scotland, is "in the process of closing," according to a statement from its CEO, Paul Farley.

On August 6, Farley expressed his sorrow in a LinkedIn post about having to close down the company responsible for games such as Falling Out, Bish Bash Bots, and It's Only Money.

Despite being close to profitability, Farley cited an increasingly challenging fundraising environment as the main reason for the studio's closure. "Without a notable hit game, continuing was not feasible," Farley noted.

"We have no regrets," he stated. "The games we published brought joy and were innovative, supported by creative and data-driven decisions. We established a strong team and efficient internal processes, won awards, and connected with gamers worldwide. Yet, we didn't achieve the breakthrough necessary in this highly competitive market."

Expressing his disappointment, Farley extended gratitude to his team for their dedication over the past four years.

Currently, Firestoke is working on "finding a new home for our portfolio and the studios behind those games." According to Farley, this effort is "progressing well," with updates expected soon.

"Although Firestoke is closing, I aim to manage its end with transparency, honesty, and fairness," Farley added.

Firestoke's closure follows a trend of independent publishers ceasing operations in recent years. Last September, Merge Games concluded its 15-year run, and Humble Games underwent restructuring in July.

Conversely, new indie publishers have emerged this year, with Artex, Lyrical Games, and The CoLab entering the scene.