The Problem with Walled Gardens

Platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and console marketplaces act as gatekeepers. They take a significant cut of sales (typically 30%), enforce their own content policies which can be arbitrary or politically motivated, and lock player libraries and communities within their ecosystem. This centralization gives immense power to a few corporations and makes the entire indie game ecosystem vulnerable. For post-capitalist games that might critique these very structures, or that choose not to engage in sales at all, these platforms are often a non-starter. We need distribution channels that align with our values of openness, autonomy, and communal control.

Models for Post-Capitalist Distribution

The IPCG researches and advocates for several alternative models. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Distribution: Using protocols like BitTorrent, IPFS, or Dat, games can be shared directly between users. We develop launchers/updaters that facilitate this, with built-in checksums and community moderation to ensure safety. Cooperatively-Owned Storefronts: Storefronts like 'Itch.io' show a more ethical model (better revenue split, flexible pricing), and we push for these to adopt cooperative ownership structures. We also prototype our own federated storefront, where multiple communities host their own catalogues that interconnect. Direct Distribution & Physical Media: Selling USB drives, SD cards, or even 'game zines' with download codes at events, infoshops, and bookstores creates tangible, offline nodes in our network.

Building Accompanying Infrastructures

Distribution isn't just about delivering a file. It's also about multiplayer servers, community forums, update patches, and preservation. We work on open-source, self-hostable solutions for each. This includes game server software designed to be run on community-owned hardware (like a local library's server), federated forum software (like ActivityPub integrations for in-game guilds), and decentralized version control for patches. The goal is a 'mesh network' of gaming infrastructure, where if one node goes down, the network persists. This also has profound implications for game preservation, ensuring that games are not lost when a corporate server is shut down.

Challenges of Discovery and Curation

Without a centralized store's algorithm, how do players find games? We reject algorithmic 'recommendation engines' that optimize for engagement. Instead, we build human-centric discovery tools. This includes community-curated lists ("Games for Climate Justice," "Cooperative Narrative Experiences"), detailed, critic-style tagging systems that go beyond genre (tags for 'no crunch,' 'worker-owned,' 'open-source'), and regular 'zines' or podcasts produced by the network highlighting new work. Discovery becomes an act of community participation and critical discourse, not passive consumption. We also host regular online and IRL festivals and game jams that serve as focal points for attention and celebration within our ecosystem.