Thanks for asking, but you should know that we can't talk about that!
We get this kind of inquiry all the time, and we appreciate it. We love to hear that fans are excited about our games and eager to see what's next. We would really love to tell you!
There are many reasons that we can't or shouldn't talk about the future. These are just a few.
- We have agreements with our licensors that limit what we can say and when.
- We have agreements with news agencies about who gets to break a big headline.
- Our marketing team uses these announcements strategically to promote releases and drive engagement.
- Plans often change. We don't want to disappoint anyone by announcing a plan before it's well underway.
The best place to find news on our current and future plans is on our blog and on our newsletter.
However, business plans are a bit more complex than just a list of what's next.
- We have a very clear idea of what we're doing in the next 4-8 months.
- About 12 months out, there's some uncertainty. We have plans, but some of them will change. Projects might get dropped or backburnered. Timelines will certainly shift.
- At the two-years-out mark, we have a list of projects that are in planning and in some stages of design and development. We plan sequels for nearly every project we start, but many of those are dependent on things like market interest, which won't be revealed until the one-year-out mark. So a lot of these plans are more speculative than substantial.
- Five years ahead? We have roadmaps, but they're very hazy and generalized. Those plans are things like "try to establish ourselves in this subcategory, with these releases, over the next few years."
All that to say, our plans for the future at Level 99 Games are less like a list, and more like the branching paths in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure story. The threads of potential futures weave together and form a clearer picture as we move forward in time.
So when you ask us about whether we're planning to do X, the answer we can't give you is likely to be "yes, we are planning for it", but that's no guarantee that it will actually happen.
A better question you could ask is "how can I inspire you to do X"?
We make decisions about which games to produce based on a lot of factors, such as distribution sales demand, aftermarket pricing, social media buzz, prevalence of fan-generated content, community engagement, and more. All of these factors are determined by how fans like you are reacting to the games that we produce.
It's much more effective to make a statement like "I really want to see X!" instead of asking us directly about our plans.
As a fan, there are a lot of ways that you can make a difference and determine the future. The biggest is simply by engaging with the games. Play them, share them, talk about them, and bring as many friends as you can along for the ride. That's the best way to see more of a game in the future.
Here are a few other great ways to get involved:
- Tell us! If you want to see more of a game, send us a shoutout on social media and tell us what you love, what you want to see, and why. Tickets are a good way to talk to our support team, but social media gives the opportunity for other fans to join your cause and voice their support and enthusiasm. We don't always reply to every post, but we are watching and taking notes.
- Annual Survey. We have an annual survey for our newsletter subscribers, that also comes with a free gift in our online store. Sharing your opinions in the survey is a great way to let us know what you're excited about, as well as to get more of our games in your hands.
- Join our Community. We have a Discord where we host periodic live events and chat with fans. Join one of these events and ask us the question. Start a discussion about what you want to see.
- Host events. We love to send prize support and promos to conventions and game stores. If you want to host an event at a venue like this, reach out to us and we'll do what we can to get involved! It's best to give us a bit of notice though—let's try to set up your event at least a month or two in advance.