The creators of the tactical horror shooter IT BEGAN are looking for a strategic investor and publisher
In the section "Investor/Publisher Wanted" — IT BEGAN, a single-player tactical horror shooter by CODE84 from Tashkent. The team is seeking $40,000 to complete the demo version and prepare the project for negotiations with publishers and investors.
IT BEGAN
The project was shared by Amir Usmanov, the founder, CEO, and creative director of the studio.
Amir Usmanov
IT BEGAN is a single-player tactical shooter with horror elements, where realistic combat, limited resources, and psychological pressure combine with the dark sci-fi setting of an underwater city. The player does not act as a superhero; every room, resource, and decision must carry weight.
| Genre | Single-player tactical first-person shooter / horror |
|---|---|
| Platform | PC — initial release; consoles considered afterward |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5.6 |
| Stage | Vertical slice/demo version development |
| Business Model | Premium, one-time purchase |
| Target Price | Approximate target for PC release — about $24.99 |
About the Team
The project is being developed within CODE84, an independent gaming direction from Tashkent, founded in 2024. The project founder combines the roles of CEO and Creative Director and is responsible for the concept, product strategy, gaming vision, production, and communication with partners.
In the previous stage, the team scaled up to 14 people. In 2026, the structure was reorganized: now, the main focus is a compact project core and attracting external specialists for specific vertical slice tasks. This format helps reduce burn rate and concentrate the budget on key systems, visual quality, and demo polishing.
Funding for the project up to the current stage was primarily provided by internal resources. The next goal is to attract seed funding for the completion of the demo version and preparing the project for the next round of talks with publishers and investors.
Previous release by the team:
Foul Bliss — a narrative horror project with an aesthetic of 1980s retro films, released on Steam on March 13, 2025. After its release, the project received content and technical updates, including an additional ending, a new monster, and localizations.
Foul Bliss
About the Project
The events of IT BEGAN take place in 2120. Humanity exists in massive underwater cities. After losing contact with the city of Asphodel, a rescue submarine arrives at Nayrhad, but its passengers are found dead and covered in an unknown substance. Amid the rising popularity of a religious cult, riots, and a failing security system, the city plunges into civil conflict. A special unit, the Aegis Unit, is sent to investigate.
Players assume the role of Nicholas “Reaper,” an operative tasked with carrying out tactical missions with limited information amidst threats from armed cultists and creatures of unknown origin.
IT BEGAN
About Gameplay/Mechanics
- Tactical shootouts emphasizing positioning, angle of entry, spatial control, and limited resources.
- Equipment system: primary and secondary weapons, armor, armor plates, gadgets, and consumables.
- Dark zones and using NVG/flashlights: lighting is a part of the gameplay solution, not just a visual effect.
- Reconnaissance with a drone before dangerous areas.
- Breach mechanics and variable room entry.
- Stress / mental state: environmental and event pressure affects the character's condition; stress can be reduced through certain actions and items.
- Limited meds, ammo, and support means require thoughtful planning.
- Destructible or reactive environments in key places, enhancing the sense of physical presence.
- Briefing → Management → Mission: before a task, players receive a briefing and select equipment based on the expected threat.
The team's main goal is to combine the tension of horror with the logic of a tactical shooter: the player should fear both monsters and wrong decisions.
IT BEGAN
Target Audience
The main audience is PC gamers over 18 who appreciate realistic tactics, intense pace, dark atmosphere, and a high level of immersion. The project is targeted at an audience of first-person tactical shooters, survival horrors, and milsim horrors.
Closest references:
- Ready or Not — in terms of pace, work with spaces, and equipment;
- SWAT 4 — in terms of planning and the structure of tactical missions;
- GTFO — in terms of tension and working with limited resources in a hostile environment;
- SCP: 5K — in terms of aesthetics;
- The Thing — in terms of the sense of paranoia;
- Lovecraft's works — in terms of setting and story.
Metrics
| Steam Page Impressions | 336,365 |
|---|---|
| Steam Page Visits | 19,775 |
| Impressions → Visits | 5.88% |
| Total Wishlist Adds | 1,505 |
| Wishlist Removals | 254 |
| Current Wishlist Balance | 1,249 (≈ 1.25k) |
Top countries by wishlists:
| Russia | 355 — 23.6% |
|---|---|
| USA | 341 — 22.7% |
| Kazakhstan | 132 — 8.8% |
| Ukraine | 52 — 3.5% |
| Uzbekistan | 49 — 3.3% |
| United Kingdom | 44 — 2.9% |
| Turkey | 43 — 2.9% |
| Brazil | 40 — 2.7% |
| Canada | 37 — 2.5% |
| Australia | 33 — 2.2% |
Whom We're Looking For
At the current stage, we are looking for a strategic partner to help bring the vertical slice to a level sufficient for further funding attraction.
| Current Investment Request | $40,000 |
|---|---|
| Working Estimate of Entire Game Budget | $300,000 |
| Fund Allocation | Team and production of vertical slice, polish, QA, key assets/tools, marketing, and demo preparation for showcases |
| What is important from the publisher | Funding the next stage, marketing/PR, QA, production support, platform relations, and distribution |
For the project, it is not only about the funds but also about finding a partner who understands the market and can help transition from a strong demo to a commercially successful release.
IT BEGAN
How to Contact?
- Telegram: https://t.me/DK_Leading
- Email: amirusmanov49@gmail.com
- Steam / Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3735270/IT_BEGAN/