Horses Tops GOG Charts, But Developer Santa Ragione Still "Very Likely" to Shut Down
The new adult horror indie game Horses, developed by Santa Ragione studio, has achieved unexpectedly strong sales on GOG despite facing numerous difficulties after release.
However, studio founder and producer Pietro Righi Riva recently revealed to the media that despite community support boosting sales, the studio is still "very likely" to cease game development.
Horses encountered major setbacks on the eve of its release: the game was not only banned from Steam but was also removed from the Epic Games Store just days before launch. Nevertheless, the game successfully released on Humble and GOG platforms on December 2nd, receiving generally positive reviews. Even more encouraging, it briefly topped GOG's bestseller chart.
Riva stated that the intense public attention surrounding the ban and community support did have a significant positive impact on sales. He estimates that Horses could reach 10,000 copies sold in its first week—a "great" result.
However, Riva regretfully confirmed that even with the sales recovery, it won't be enough to "get the studio out of trouble."
"The sales trend we're seeing now... it looks like we might be able to pay back the investors who lent us money and clear our debts," Riva told Polygon. But he noted the outlook isn't optimistic: "But as things stand, it's unlikely to provide us with enough funds actually to make a new project."
Riva explained the problem:
"Because of the whole situation [referring to the ban controversy], we had to stop working halfway through development of the game."
Valve refused to provide Steam keys for their other game, Saturnalia, preventing the studio from generating the cash flow needed to start new projects through bundles and other means.
Riva admitted that while the possibility of new investors stepping in still exists, given the current situation, the studio dissolving or ceasing game development remains the most likely outcome. For many players who appreciate Santa Ragione's uniquely quirky horror game style, this is undoubtedly disappointing news.
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
