What it feels like to release a game (Joel Burgess) (Patreon)

This episode is a bit unusual. I’m chatting with a talented game developer who also happens to be a friend. I’ve known Joel Burgess for many years, dating back to his time helping to design open-world RPGs for AAA studios. 

He currently serves as the Studio Head of the indie studio Soft Rains, which has been busy preparing the debut of its first game. Ambrosia Sky is a sci-fi immersive sim in which you play as a death cleaner. Picture Powerwash Simulator spliced with BioShock, and then add the NYTimes obituaries, and you’re not far off. This week, Ambrosia Sky: Act 1 hits Steam. 

What does it feel like to launch a video game, particularly as the head of a studio, responsible for not just the success of the game but the business? The stress. The joy. The mixed sense of finishing one race, and in the current age of DLC, updates, and additional acts, starting another marathon.

This week on Post Games: what it's actually like to release a video game in 2025.

Act 1: The chaos of making a video game in the 2020s

Act 2: The moments before pressing publish

Patreon bonus: How Joel's dog inspired the look and soul of Dogmeat in Fallout 4

Act 3: News of the week

Act 1: The chaos of making a video game in the 2020s

Ambrosia Sky: Act 1 (Steam)

Games about death improve our lives, with Ambrosia Sky's Kaitlyn Tremblay (Post Games)

Bloodrayne 2 (Steam)

Fallout 4 (Steam)

Watch Dogs Legion (Steam)

Grindstone (Steam)

The History of TI Graphing Calculator Gaming (This Does Not Compute)

Act 2: The moments before pressing publish

Ambrosia Sky Is A Narrative-Driven Game That Mixes FPS Action With Sci-Fi Power Washing (Game Informer)

The State of Video Game Financing in 2025 (Naavik)

Video Game Makers Turn Back to Kickstarter in Tough Funding Climate (Bloomberg)

Are 'unreasonable investor expectations' the cause of poor video game market conditions? (Game Developer)

The video game funding gap: How investors are failing marginalized developers (Polygon)

Patreon bonus: How Joel's dog inspired the look and soul of Dogmeat in Fallout 4

Dogmeat in Fallout 4 (Fallout Wiki)

Joel Burgess credits (Moby Games)

Duke Nukem 3D Mods (ModDB)

Unreal Tournament Mods (ModDB)

Act 3: News of the week

Egg (Terry Cavanagh on itch.io)

Evil Egg (Steam)

Fortnite’s The Simpsons season is a worthy tribute to one of the most celebrated shows of all time (The Guardian)

This week in video game links

The hottest trend in speedrunning is flipping a coin (The Verge)

How a bunch of hackers freed the Kinect from the Xbox (The Verge)

When Stick Figures Fought (Animation Obsessive)

Absolum brings the arcade spirit of its fantasy inspirations roaring into the modern age (Canon Fire)

The great ones never lose. They just run out of time (Lifebar)

Of course, working at Obsidian is like a real-world RPG (The Game Business)

The best 'true' indie games of 2025 (Polygon)

Free game of the week: RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army demo

This game will appeal to fans of Persona and SMT! Here's the full Steam synopsis: "The story of apprentice detective and Devil Summoner extraordinaire Raidou Kuzunoha XIV returns in this remastered classic! Call upon your demons to solve supernatural mysteries and dispose of enemies." (Steam)

What else I’m enjoying

De La Soul - "The Package" (Visualizer) (De La Soul)

Andy Shauf - "Halloween Store" (ANTI- Records)

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! | Special Trailer (Netflix Anime)

"Wheels of a Dream" - The Broadway Production of "Ragtime" feat. Joshua Henry & Nichelle Lewis (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)

Snocaps - "Coast" (ANTI- Records)

Whitney - The Thread (Official Audio) (Whitney)

The Breeders - Divine Hammer (Official Video) (4AD)