Production collective Midnighters launches to ‘create and support long-lasting businesses’

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Midnighters, a new global collective focused on providing production and publishing support to indies, has broken cover to help development teams and publishers build video games “confidently and sustainably.”

The company was established by a quartet of industry veterans who have previously worked on titles like Art of Rally, Cult of the Lamb, Mini Metro, and Alto’s Adventure.  The four co-directors—Zea Wolfe, Jair McBain, Aaron Oak, and Jacob Vincent—have shipped nearly 50 titles collectively.

“Midnighters formed when a group of experienced producers—with individually storied backgrounds in the video game industry—joined forces to better support indie developers to develop and release titles during one of the hardest industry climates in recent memory,” reads an announcement. 

“Having previously collaborated to deliver Funselektor’s Art of Rally, Absolute Drift, and Golden Lap, the Midnighters crew knew they could assist a wider range of developers by coming together and offering their skills and experience as a collective. We believe games can be built more sustainably and with equal care for the teams that create them and the audiences that love them.”

Midnighters will offer a full service or “light-touch” publishing experience based on negotiable terms that cater to the specific needs of its partners. The company is open to collaborating on projects of varying scales and can provide upfront funding if required.

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It’s also interested in working with teams that do not require a direct investment. In those instances, it will offer publishing support in exchange for a “smaller share of project royalties than a typical publisher would expect.” 

“The typical publishing model doesn’t always meet the needs of independent developers. With our background as artists, designers and engineers ourselves, we aim to offer a tailored approach that supports developers in doing what they do best,” said co-director Zea Wolfe. “We are driven by a deep understanding of what it feels like to be in their shoes.”

Midnighters is eager to collaborate with developers working on original titles, community-driven experiences, and scalable projects with the potential to resonate. It is currently accepting pitches and is encouraging prospective partners to include materials such as decks, builds, and footage alongside their submissions. 

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