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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞

@esmmazing.bsky.social
666 followers 182 following 44 posts

🎮 game artist & designer in NL 🐞 prev: Tracks of Thought, Wholesome Games | current: 2D/UI artist Cat Cafe Manager 2 @roostgames | 🏳️‍🌈 She / They

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Reposted by Esmeé van't Hoff🐞
House House @househouse.com · 15/10/2026
An explanation on why Big Walk isn't available on Xbox. bigwalk.game/xbox
Regarding Xbox

In June 2026 we announced that the release of Big Walk would be limited to computers, Switch 2 and PS5. Since then, we have received many messages and comments, asking about a future Xbox release. We would like to address those questions here:

We have made the decision not to release Big Walk on Xbox, in accordance with the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement’s call to boycott Microsoft, and their designation of Microsoft Games (and Xbox) as a priority boycott target. If you need help understanding our motives, we would recommend reading about why Microsoft is a BDS priority target, the successes this kind of pressure has already had on Microsoft, and especially, watching this great introductory piece by People Make Games.

It has always been our intention for Big Walk to be played by groups of friends, and we know that keeping the game off Xbox runs counter to those intentions. This decision means that some people will miss out on playing Big Walk with their friends, and we understand the disappointment we’re causing. We are disappointed too.

We would love for people to be able to play the game on Xbox, but not until Microsoft and/or Xbox have been removed as BDS boycott targets.

We’ve made this decision with the belief that meaningful change can be made in the world, that coordinated collective action can confront even the most powerful interests, and that one day, Palestine will be free.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
House House

(see bigwalk.game/xbox for links)
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Alex Strook 🐭⚡️SQUEAKROSS @alexstrook.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
If you have free asset store packaged, unity automatically added them to their AI "spark" thing In typical LLM fashion, it’s opt-out instead of opt-in! You can manually remove them (and you should)
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Christophe is making Prerolled! @qaqelol.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
For the #TomodachiLife background wobbling effect: the idea is to push the UV of the texture with a rotating gradient mask #Godot #GameDev #Shader #Ui
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Milktooth | making Bad Magpie @milktooth.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
IT’S HAPPENED! YOU can finally play Bad Magpie! so what are you waiting for, go and play the demo NOW 🗺️ explore a chaotic and colourful world 🌟 get a glimpse of the mysterious narrative 🔍 discover meteorites and hidden items 🐦 wreck havoc, be a menace play now on Steam & XBOX on PC!
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derek achoy 🐰🏡 indoor animal @derekachoy.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
something i'm still learning about creativity is that it's okay to repeat yourself. it's great to explore new territory, but you don't have to reinvent yourself every single time.  there's something meaningful about finding your voice, your style, your tone, and pouring your heart into honing it.
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Nicole Carpenter @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
jess is right! it’s worse than ever for women in this field, and it was still pretty bad at our peak. im one of the lucky freelancers who has regular work (probably work more than i did at polygon!), and it’s still not a livable amount of pay. it’s pushing important and skilled women out.
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Work With Indies @workwithindies.com · 30/09/2026
Josh Singer is hiring a Trailer Editor to cut a slick Steam launch trailer for a clever new puzzle platformer! 🛰️ Freelance, Remote 🎬 Edit gameplay & showcase mechanics 🎵 Soundtrack & footage provided ⤵️
workwithindies.com
Josh Singer is hiring a Trailer Editor
I am hiring a freelance video editor to cut a 60-second Steam launch trailer for my upcoming PC thinky puzzle game.
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Fellow Traveller @fellowtraveller.games · 28/09/2026
🌟 Presenting the LudoNarraCon 2026 Official Selection 🌟 🎮 51 narrative indie games 🗓️ October 8–15 PT on Steam 💙 Supported by @jacobgeller.com, @lookingfor.game, @remapradio.bsky.social & @thisweekinvideogames.com 🌐 More info at bit.ly/FTLNC2026 📬 Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated!
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Adriaan @adriaan.games · 28/09/2026
i’ll beat this drum over & over again: game devs obsessing over Steam as if it’s the only viable platform is self-sabotaging and potentially the death of their business. case in point: rift riff was designed for Steam with $30k marketing spent. yet it makes 6X on the App Store with $0 on marketing
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Indoor Animal Games 🏡🐰 Wrenny Lee: Witch-for-Hire OUT NOW! @indooranimal.com · 25/09/2026
🪄🌟Wrenny Lee: Witch-for-Hire is OUT NOW!! Play our short visual novel about a freelance witch trying to find her client's mysteriously missing fiancé! 👉 On Steam for just 5 bucks!! (launch discount) steampowered.com/app/4776970/ Reposts super appreciated ❤️ #indiegame #indiegamedev #gamedev
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
interesting read!
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Jenna "the" Yow @jannouna.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
i wrote some life sim thoughts, namely about mistria and pokopia jannouna.dev/the-cozy-gri...
jannouna.dev
The Cozy Grind
I have thoughts. Life sim thoughts.
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KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam! @ko-op.com · 21/09/2026
We’re so excited to share our BRAND NEW trailer for Young Suns and announce that we’re launching on Steam on November 3rd! 🚀 ✨ Wishlist now! hi.youngsuns.com/Steam
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Del @del.art · 20/09/2026
When a game studio ships a solid game, it creates TWO valuable products: 1. A solid game. 2. The team that spent years learning how to work together make a game. Because Western studios keep disbanding #2 while development cycles get longer; we will inevitably see less of #1.
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Qweerty Gamers 🔜 TwitchCon SD @qweertygamers.org · 19/09/2026
🏳️‍🌈Have a queer or queer-made game releasing in 2027? Our Qweerty Game Dev Microgrant is accepting applications! Recipients will receive up to $2,500 to finish funding their game. 🗓️ Apply by October 11th Thanks to zPride for helping make this possible <3
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Jenna "the" Yow @jannouna.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
So with the news of the layoffs at KO_OP, I'm officially looking for work later this fall. I'm an experienced narrative designer that's worked on both sprawling open world stories and intimate cinematic narratives, even netting some award wins and noms. More details on my experience below!
key art for Young Suns by KO_OPkey art for Goodbye Volcano High by KO_OPkey art for Spirit Swap by Soft Not Weak
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Aysha 🔜 Cancon @ayshaufarah.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
I’m Aysha, a writer and narrative designer looking for full time and contract work! I’ve worked on Life is Strange, Pathologic, Hiveswap, and Magic the Gathering, to name a few. Hire me while the industry still exists!
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Guitouxx - JUST GET THE FLAG on Steam @guitouxx.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
🌟JUST GET THE FLAG STEAM PAGE 🌟 I'm so happy, my game has a steam page and a trailer! 🎮 80+ handcrafted levels 🧩Solve puzzles at your own pace 💡Master special blocks with a variety of powers Sharing would help me a lot 🫶🏼 #steam #indiedev #godot #godotengine 🎵 by @juliengcomposer.bsky.social
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Zach Soares @voxels.ca · 11/09/2026
I'm available for work! - Characters - Rigging and Animations - Environments Art I've worked on Teardown, Vampire Crawlers, Moonglow Bay and many more! Feel free to DM me or email zachary.soares@zsinked.com
Teardown Marketing screenshot showcasing the second level of the Relics of Barkuna DLC. Vampire Crawlers screenshot from within the library. Environment art can be seen with the array of bookshelves and propsMoonglow Bay selfies screenshot from the main character. Soft and light art styleA screenshot from On The Nose, interrogating our first suspect Mr. Deerest.
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Indoor Animal Games 🏡🐰 Wrenny Lee: Witch-for-Hire OUT NOW! @indooranimal.com · 10/09/2026
◀🐰▶ If you haven't tried our games before, you can play Posey Picks & the Bus Stop for free right on itch! indooranimal.itch.io/posey-picks-... (works on phone too!) It's a wacky choose-your-own story where you help Posey pick what to do when her bus is late! #poseypicks #indiegamedev #indiegame
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Women-Led Games @womenledgames.com · 09/09/2026
Women-Led Games returns for our Game Awards showcase this December! We partner with the most prestigious names in gaming media to put a permanent spotlight on women-led excellence in games. Form closes October 5th! forms.gle/UMNAF2UGfhF8...
forms.gle
Women-Led Games - The Game Awards 2026
Women-Led Games is gearing up for our 2026 Game Awards Showcase and are once again officially partnering with our broadcasting partner at The Game Awards to do so! We partner with the most prestigiou...
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Sos "Buy Lazy Kickers" Sosowski @sosowski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Another such case. Every day, an indie game developer making something cool and sharing is getting ripped off by these clowns. Original on the left. Don’t share your game - no sales Share your game - gets stolen
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KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam! @ko-op.com · 10/09/2026
An important update from KO_OP.
With great sadness and respect, over the next few months KO_OP will be saying goodbye to 13 members of our team. This decision was made to ensure the survival of the studio, and we deeply regret its necessity and the negative impact on our colleagues’ lives.

KO_OP has been making games for nearly a decade and a half, and our project funding has primarily come from publishers and platform partners. The games funding landscape has changed radically over the last few years, and unlike previous project cycles, this time we have been unable to secure funding for new projects while developing our current engagements.

As with all our company's operational decisions, this one was made democratically, and was motivated by the survival of the studio rather than maximizing profits. Our members are regularly updated on our cash flow situation, and were made aware of this upcoming shortfall well in advance. Membership then appointed a group to plan for this eventuality, and ratified their recommendations. Team leads and our elected executives will also be impacted by these reductions. We believe this level of transparency and accountability ought to be a minimum requirement for all organizations.

Young Suns will be reaching new platforms, with new content and features. We're all tremendously proud of it, and hope it will find its audience. Our bylaws ensure that any profits from Young Suns will still be shared with impacted team members. Our goal now is to develop new game concepts and prototypes while continuing to support Young Suns. In the event that we secure funding in the coming months, our intent is to rehire as many of our colleagues as possible.

In the coming days we will be sharing a list of impacted workers in the hopes of helping them find new work. We thank you for your support.
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Jenna "the" Yow @jannouna.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Extremely heartbroken to say that I'm one of the affected members. Working at KO_OP for four and a half years has been one of the best things to ever happen to me and I really hope that my teammates can land a pitch that can bring us all back together again.
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it's daniel @dkmode.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
i have unfortunately been affected by this, and will be leaving the studio at the end of this month. i will miss it dearly and am really hoping to make it back. ko_op is/was likely my last ride in games, but i am open to the right opportunity. deets on my experience in thread.
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noé @celechii.itch.io · 10/09/2026
so sad to say i'm one of the devs affected by this and am leaving at the end of the month i've had an absolutely incredible time at ko_op helping ship our 3 most recent games over the 4 years i've been here. i love all my coworkers and hope that things improve and we get to work together again soon
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🥖Kekeflipnote🥖 🔜 NFC @kekeflipnote.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In this period of time filled with AI stupidity, let's celebrate those we are not celebrating enough: Art supporters, Art commissioners THANK YOU! Thanks to YOU, many artists can do what they do the best and keep being productive but most importantly Artists can LIVE!
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Point-and-Click Showcase @pointclickshowcase.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
📣 Announcing the Point-and-Click Showcase 🎉 Together @amanita-design.net and @rustylake.com are hosting a showcase packed with new game trailers, a dedicated Steam sale, and much more to be revealed. 👀 🔗 Apply NOW: forms.gle/z6e1QQFP9xwT... Follow us for future updates! 🖱️
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Kitty Crawford @kittycrawford.com · 09/09/2026
Attacking disabled people is nothing new tbh, but they did get distracted there for a bit with their campaign against trans people. It's easier to start by attacking the vulnerable, the ones less able to fight back. But do not think for a second it will stop with us, it never does.
First they came for the Trans people
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Trans person

Then they came for the Disabled
And I did not speak out
Because I was not Disabled

Then they came for the Gays and Lesbians
And I did not speak out
Because I was not Gay or Lesbian

Then they came for the Women
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Woman

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
best 12 euros I've ever spent
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ToonHive @toonhive.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Procreate confirms it has NO plans to add generative AI features to its apps. The company continues to stand firmly against integrating generative AI into its creative tools.
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Wholesome Games @wholesomegames.com · 04/09/2026
The Wholesome Games Game Jam has returned! This is a beginner-friendly, low-pressure jam organized by our Discord community with a focus on having fun, being creative, and making new friends! 🎨 All skill levels welcome 💖 Multiple ways to participate ⬇️ Links with more info
A large logo with the text "Wholesome Games Game Jam 2026". The background is a pattern featuring music notes, keyboard keys, diamonds, puzzle pieces, and flowers.
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Sokpop Collective @sokpop.co · 01/09/2026
Grail, our autobattler deckbuilder is OUT NOW!!!
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
that's so smart actually
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Wholesome Games @wholesomegames.com · 01/09/2026
Wholesome Snack will return this December, and submissions are live now! Similar to Wholesome Direct, Wholesome Snack offers a delightful assortment of new trailers, exclusive announcements, and surprise world premieres. Developers can submit their projects now until Sep. 15 ⬇️
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Christophe is making Prerolled! @qaqelol.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
THE NEW DEMO IS OUT!!!! I'm so happy with how it turned out!!! It would be so nice of you if you would share and wishlist the game!!! Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4476380/... Itch: red-sauce.itch.io/prerolled #Godot #GameDev #Indie #Prerolled #Roguelike #Deckbuilder #Incremental #Puzzl
Prerolled : Big Update!
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KO_OP: 🪐 Wishlist Young Suns on Steam! @ko-op.com · 31/08/2026
We’re so excited to announce that the 1.0 Launch of Young Suns is LIVE on XBOX for PC, XBOX Series X|S, and XBOX One! Thank you so much to everyone for your support and meeting our Jupiter crew! hi.youngsuns.com/XBOX
A light-skinned person wearing a spacesuit smiling and looking over their shoulder, smiling into the camera. They’re carrying a large wrench on their shoulder. The background is the sky in pinks and purples, with Jupiter taking up most of it. Our logo for Young Suns is superimposed over it. Text beneath reads: Available now on XBOX, Series X|S, PC, Cloud, Game Pass.
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
wooow such a fun concept!
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Jennifer - Everything MUST Fit! | Love, Ghostie @janbehchanbeh.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
📢 NEW GAME ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 We're making a cozy, chaotic puzzle game where you transform, combine, and BREAK items to arrange them to fit the grid. No matter what, everything MUST fit! Wishlist Everything MUST Fit! on Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/4658150/...
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virgil (school hiatus) 🫆🔮💫 @vigilnaut.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
daily reminder ✨
DO NOT ask yourself whether your art is GOOD. instead ask: is it SINCERE, is it CATHARTIC, was it FUN TO MAKE, is it MADE BY ME, and don’t forget to stay silly
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Zach Soares @voxels.ca · 26/05/2026
I'm looking for work! - Characters - Environments - Animations Whatever your needs, I can do it 💪 I've worked on Teardown, Vampire Crawlers and many more! Feel free to DM me or email zachary.soares@zsinked.com
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
yippie new public transport activity
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
right? if you're tight on time you can also just photobash for concept art
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
great initiative!
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Draknek & Friends @draknek.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Reminder: applications for the Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant are now open!🎉🎉 These grants are intended to support creators who are underinvested in today’s game industry or don't receive much support from existing structures. Read more and apply here: grants.draknek.org
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Esmeé van't Hoff🐞 @esmmazing.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
let's gooo good stuff!
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WINGS @wingsfund.me · 18/08/2026
We’re entering a new era here at WINGS. 🪽 Check out our brand new website to discover our newly announced funding models - white label and finishing funds! Pitch us your premium PC indie games being made by women and gender marginalized devs.💰🎮🔥 www.wingsfund.me 🖱️
youtu.be
WINGS - 2026 Portfolio Trailer
YouTube video by WINGS
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Mathew Kumar @mathewkumar.com · 17/08/2026
Please share: I'm writing an article and I want to talk to developers who have successfully transitioned out of the games industry to jobs elsewhere. What do you do now? How did you sell yourself? What skills were transferable? All disciplines welcome, my DMs are open.
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jj skolnik @supremenothing.myatproto.social · 11/08/2026
what if i do not want to be optimized. what if i want to make mistakes because that’s how you learn; what if i want to do nothing sometimes, what if i want a world that is weird and challenging and has mysteries left to reveal. what if i like taking the long way
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Cat Cafe Manager 2 😽☕ EA Release in Q4 2026! @roostgames.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
🙀Meowzers!🙀 Cat Cafe Manager 2 hit over ✨50,000 WISHLISTS✨ on Steam!! 🎉We are SO incredibly proud of this milestone, and it's all thanks to our amazing community! THANK YOU! 👇Give our DEMO a try (link below) & join the wishlist crew!💗 #indiedev #cozygaming
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