Summary
Black Tabby Games, the developer of breakout hit indie gameSlay the Princess, is encouraging players to pirate the visual novel if they can’t afford to buy the game. First releasing in October, the horror visual novel revolving around the titular mission to kill a princess has been met with universal acclaim.Fans and critics alike have praisedSlay the Princessfor its unique premise and branching narrative, as well as the game’s exceptional voice acting. Now, the game’s developer confirms it is okay with players pirating the highly-rated game.
Piracy has been a touchy subject within the gaming industry with many studios going to extreme lengths to stop illegal downloads of games. Nintendo has been one of the most notorious anti-piracy developers, often taking legal action against emulation-focused websites and bringing Denuvo DRM anti-piracy protection to the Switch last year. Some indie games have taken more creative routes to dealing with piracy, with games likeGame Dev Tycoonintentionally sabotaging playerswho have pirated the game.Slay the Princess, however, looks to be more okay with illegal downloads, according to a recent update from its developer.
A recent social media post fromSlay the Princessdeveloper Black Tabby Games reveals the studio’s unusual stance around piracy of its newest game. The post suggests that playing the game for yourself is the best way to experience the game for the first time, rather than watching another person’s playthrough. To this end, theSlay the Princessdeveloper encourages players to pirate the game, suggesting that players can try outSlay the Princessand buy it at a later date. Black Tabby Games goes on to press the importance of experiencing the decision-heavy game for the first time with the player’s own decisions.
Slay the Princess' positive stance towards piracy comes as the game has already seen high praise just over two months following its launch.Slay the Princessis one of 2023’s highest-rated gameson review aggregate site OpenCritic, with an impressive score of 90 putting it alongside smash hits likeSpider-Man 2andDave the Diver.Slay the Princesshas also seen several nominations from smaller awards shows, winning “Best Indie RPG” at streaming organization OTK’s 2023 awards.
2023 has been a banner year for indie games with a variety of critically acclaimed and beloved indie games releasing throughout the year.The Messengerdeveloper Sabotage Studio would capture"Best Indie Game" at the 2023 Game AwardswithSea of Stars, also being nominated for “Best RPG.” Geometric Interactive’sCocoonwould also claim the title of “Best Debut Indie Game” at the awards show for its innovative gameplay and stellar presentation.Slay the Princessserves as a late but popular addition to 2023’s stacked indie game lineup.
