Empowering Indie Developers: The Launch of Three Friends Publishing Label in the Nordics

A new collaboration is emerging from seasoned professionals in the gaming industry, aiming to support indie developers in the Nordics. Previously involved with projects like Minecraft, Valheim, and Deep Rock Galactic, these individuals are joining forces to establish a new publishing label that seeks to empower smaller creative teams.

Three Friends is the name of this label, co-founded by Albert Säfström, Daniel Kaplan, Sebastian Badylak, and Johan Hermeren. Its primary goal is to assist developers in realizing their visions, enhancing project visibility, and ensuring financial sustainability.

The framework of the label is built around three core principles:

• Get in Early, Build it Right
• Pick the Right Battles
• Guidance, Not Control

These mantras acknowledge that while indie developers may not have the financial backing of larger studios, they possess greater creative control compared to projects involving vast teams.

In discussing the formation of Three Friends, Säfström shared insights about what contributes to a successful game. He emphasized that it is not merely about one significant idea, but rather the accumulation of numerous small decisions made throughout the development process. Each right choice contributes to the overall experience. The aim is to cultivate an environment where concepts can develop without losing their focus, thus helping teams optimize their time and resources effectively.

Three Friends has already begun collaborating with various indie projects, though it plans to keep specifics under wraps until spring 2025.