Julien Wera

Julien Wera is an industry veteran whose experience includes Global Brand Director for EA's Battlefield and Mirror's Edge franchises, leading the games portfolio as Chief Product Officer for Paradox Interactive, or running his own startup studio Moon Rover Games, before joining Shiro Games earlier this year to head up studio operations and publishing. Established 13 years ago in Bordeaux, France, Shiro Games has since then remained an under-the-radar independent success story, releasing multi-million sellers such as Northgard or Wartales, and this year publishing 2 new games from its own teams: Farever and SpaceCraft, while preparing the release of Northgard Battlegrounds and Frostrail through its third-party publishing label Shiro Unlimited.

Navigating the Modern Self-Publishing Landscape and Building for a More Sustainable Future

Over the past two decades, the rise of Steam and other direct-to-consumer digital platforms has empowered game studios to bypass traditional publishers and connect directly with their audience. Today, however, these platforms are more crowded than ever. As countless titles compete for attention, a publisher's marketing muscle and capital can seem indispensable. Yet against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting economic landscape, self-publishing often remains the most sustainable path for a studio to build and grow a long-term business.

This roundtable will explore the current state of self-publishing, tackling critical questions such as: What are the primary incentives to self-publish, and who should avoid it? How has the market shifted from the "Golden Age of Indie Gaming" to the so-called "Indie Apocalypse"? What modern best practices actually move the needle, and where can teams find support for this daunting task? What roles do investors, licensors, and platform holders play in a self-published success story?

Attendees will discuss practical strategies for navigating today's market alongside valuable food for thought on how to build a more sustainable gaming ecosystem for the future.