"Creativity Alone Isn't Enough": Gnosia Creator Explains Why Great Games Fail Commercially
Toru Kawakatsu, the producer and game director at Petit Depotto, shared his candid insights into the indie industry during a recent interview. He emphasized that the key to success lies in striking a balance between creative drive and sharp business acumen.
As I gained experience, I started to realize that idealistic beliefs, such as 'if you make something good, it will attract people's attention and sell well,' almost never align with reality. In truth, it's hard to succeed without a certain level of financial understanding and business sense.
Kawakatsu underscored the inescapable nature of the "business side" of game development:
Dreams alone will only sustain you for so long – you must confront reality.
However, Kawakatsu acknowledges that a strong business focus can sometimes divert attention from pure creativity. He believes that a creator should first engage with their inner vision, while the producer's role is to refine this "raw" concept, making it understandable and high-quality for the intended audience.
Frankly speaking, I believe that if a creator simply expresses their pure creative vision, the result might be too esoteric, making it difficult for others to understand and truly connect with it.
Given that developing an indie game typically spans 3-4 years, commercial success is absolutely vital for a studio's survival.
Gnosia is available across multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC. The game also received an anime adaptation, which aired from October 2025 to March 2026.
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