Key Takeaways
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- Indie game developers are facing significant financial hurdles in showcasing their trailers at major industry events, such as The Game Awards, due to expensive costs estimated upwards of $1 million for a three-minute trailer.
- To combat these high costs and increase accessibility, indie developers have started sharing trailers on social media platforms like Twitter, using the hashtag #didnthave1million.
- This movement has gained attention from gamers who appreciate the challenges faced by independent creators and are supporting their projects through shares and wishlists.
- The initiative highlights the need for greater inclusivity in the video game industry, allowing indie developers to effectively promote their work without excessive financial burdens.
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Indie Game Developers Share Trailer Dreams on Social Media Amid Game Awards Cost Debate
In recent days, independent game developers and producers, lacking the funds to present at Geoff Keighley’s event, have begun using social media to promote their projects. While the organizers of the event, which aspires to be the “Oscars of Video Games,” have never disclosed the costs for showcasing trailers, a recent report suggests that a three-minute trailer could cost upwards of $1 million. Even shorter trailers are reportedly close to this figure. These costs have sparked debate, especially given that the celebration is largely inaccessible to independent creators—an ironic situation considering the attention indie games receive. Instead of spending a million dollars on a single trailer during the Game Awards, indie game developers are sharing trailers on social media to keep costs low. In response, independent developers have initiated a movement on platforms like X, freely sharing trailers with messages such as, “We didn’t have 1 million for a trailer, so we’re posting our [game] here instead.” This approach has begun to garner attention from gamers who recognize the challenges faced by these producers. Here are some examples of these social media posts:
Indie Developers Showcase Game Trailers on Social Media Amidst Financial Hurdles for Major Industry Events
“I didn’t have 1 million for a Game Awards Trailer so I’m posting my Desktop Roguelike game here instead for free pic.twitter.comGJxVknWCnu SylverDev Identifile OUT NOW (sylverdev) December 14, 2025” “We didn’t have 1 million for a Game Awards Trailer so we’re posting our dark fantasy actionplatformer here instead for free#indiedev #HELLREAPER pic.twitter.comiOd7SV5H9P Awesome Games Studio wishlist HELLREAPER (AwesomeGamesStd) December 16, 2025” “We didn’t have 1 million for a Game Awards Trailer so we’re posting our love letter to classic JRPGs here instead for free#gamedev pic.twitter.comUMHHCd7VsK SacriFire (pixelatedmilk) December 17, 2025” “We didn’t have 1 million for a Game Awards trailer, so we’re posting our love letter to PS2era 3D ActionAdventures here instead for free ] pic.twitter.commVTSNvHgqK Fading Skies WISHLIST ON STEAM (FadingSkiesGame) December 18, 2025” The developers’ social media activity underscores the financial barriers indie developers face in promoting their work at major industry events.
In Case You Missed It
In our gaming world scoop roundup, Sophie Laurent over at Players For Life has sparked excitement with her recent revelation that a massive Nintendo 64 classic is primed for a grand return after years in the shadows. In “A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked”, published on December 14, 2025, she dives into the resurgence of a prehistoric franchise that’s ready to reignite your nostalgia or pique your curiosity about what’s next in retro gaming A Massive Nintendo 64 Classic Preparing for Its Grand Return, Leaked. Meanwhile, Ahmed Hassan has uncovered an astonishing claim: indie creator Grolaf has allegedly developed the world’s first game created entirely by AI in just three months! Dive into ‘Codex Mortis’, inspired by Vampire Survivors and crafted using tools like Claude Code and ChatGPT, releasing soon on Steam with a free demo. Check it out here Indie Creator Claims This is the First Game in the World Made Entirely with AI. Lastly, Bruno Pferd sheds light on the buzz surrounding Dispatch’s controversial content in his recent post. In “Sex Scenes in Dispatch Were Never Cut”, published December 19, 2025, he delves into the misconceptions and provides clarity straight from the creators themselves about how initial planning and budget constraints shaped Dispatch’s final cut Sex Scenes in Dispatch Were Never Cut.
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