iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Needless to say, super excited for this launch and can't wait to see how our users interact with the new tools!

Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

v6.4.0 drops new tools like Trend Watch 📈 which help indies monitor Steam trends that matter to them and a new Game Gap algo for finding market segments w/ high demand but little competition 👀

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I've been really quiet on socials the last month. I'm lucky because my wife & biz partner carries me during times like this 💪 🙏 the reason I've been so quiet is coz I've been working on v6.4.0 of GameOracle which dropped today! #gamedev #indiedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Our data tells two very different stories about AI in game dev: 📉 Experienced dev with good marketing? AI use could cost you 40–60% of your sales. 😐 Inexperienced dev with no budget? AI probably makes no difference either way. www.game-oracle.com/blog/ai-part2 #gamedev #AIGames #IndieGames

game-oracle.com

AI in Games: The Impact On Sales

Explore how AI influences game success on Steam. This data-driven analysis uncovers the link between AI usage and sales performance, revealing whether AI-generated content in Steam games is impacting…

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

We analysed 9,879 games on Steam and found that using AI in development is associated with a ~53% drop in reviews compared to similar games that didn't use AI. But the full picture is way more nuanced than that headline suggests 👇 youtu.be/ke9ZKPST1VI?... #indiedev #gamedev #steamdata

youtu.be

When AI Destroys Your Steam Launch

In this video, a causal analysis of 2025 Steam releases shows that declaring generative AI use is potentially damaging your sales, even after controlling for experience, publisher backing, genre, and…

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I was not expecting this video to go viral at all, left me feeling a bit overwhelmed 🥴 but I guess it resonated with some people. I'm gonna try & live up to what I've said & just keep pushing on #gamedev youtu.be/WueQ75GP1wc?...

youtu.be

I Analysed 62,000 Indie Developers. Here's What Actually Predicts Success

YouTube video by Game Oracle

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

To every #gamedev #indiedev who shipped a game and felt like it flopped. What did you learn that changed how you approached the next one? Drop your story below 👇

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Unpopular opinion: Most indie games don't fail because of bad design. They fail because the dev had no idea who the audience was before they started building. Market research isn't just for big studios.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I recently found only 1-in-5 #gamedev #indiedev publish >1 game on Steam. If this is you, quick question 👇 What's the biggest thing holding you back from shipping your next game? 1) Fear of failure 2) Time / money 3) Not knowing if there's a market for it 4) Something else?

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

5% of games on Steam account for 91.9% of all sales. Yes, this market (like most) is brutal, but the data also shows you've got to find ways to keep rolling the dice! More on this here 👉️ youtu.be/WueQ75GP1wc?...

youtu.be

Why 80% of Indie Developers Disappear (And How to Be the 20%)

Why do so few indie games on Steam make real money, and what can developers actually do about it? In this talk, Ross from Game Oracle breaks down the Steam power law problem, why 5% of games capture…

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

On your 1st game, you have a ~10% chance of a breakthrough hit. By your 5th? That climbs to ~50%. My theory is that stamina and compounding is the most powerful force for #indiedev #gamedev www.game-oracle.com/blog/indie-d...

game-oracle.com

What if the key to success is survival?

What if the biggest factor in indie game success isn't talent or timing, but survival? We analysed 62,000+ Steam developers to find out.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

In #gamedev we judge ourselves by sales figures because they're easy to measure. But you can't quantify the joy you bring a player. Don't fall victim to the McNamara Fallacy.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

The "AI stigma" on Steam is real, but the real problem isn't what players think. Our data suggests AI isn't making games worse. It's a symptom of studios cutting corners, rushing deadlines, and replacing craft with shortcuts. The tool isn't the issue. The culture around it is. #gamedev #indiedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Only 1-in-5 #gamedev will go on to make a second game so stop looking at the wave of new releases on Steam as real competition www.game-oracle.com/blog/indie-d...

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Make'Em Mayhem is seeing enormous wishlist growth. We estimate they have over 10K wishlists now, most obtained in the last 90 days. Very unique take on the use of AI here 👀 curious what people think, is this a genuinely exciting use of AI in games, or not? #gamedev #indiedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Our trend map spies an opportunity for #gamedev around this market focused on grid-based tactical combat & strategic team management 👀

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Bulletfest signal for #gamedev: demand for “Whimsical Arcade Bullet Hells” is high at 9.2/10, but the real market gap isn’t more chaos, it’s better chaos. We looked at player sentiment & they want less repetitive runs, cluttered screens, shallow content, & better controls.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I'm a data scientist that studies #gamedev, end of last yr I did a study into the impact of AI disclosure for #Steam games. Thinking of doing a follow-up to see if anything has changed. Would anyone be interested in that? www.game-oracle.com/blog/ai-part1 www.game-oracle.com/blog/ai-part2

game-oracle.com

AI in Games: How Many Games Are Using AI?

Discover the prevalence of AI in gaming with our data-driven analysis of Steam's AI disclosure statements. This study offers the first look at how many developers are using AI-generated content in…

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

amFM is a great reminder for every #gamedev #indiedev tempted to play it safe: weird can win. This absurdist, dimension-hopping tactical RPG has one of the highest uniqueness scores at Game Oracle and by our estimates is clocking up thousands of wishlists. Be bold guys!

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Kingfish by Firevolt Studio recently topped our Outlier leaderboard with a uniquness score of 9.9/10 & an estimated 100k+ wishlists 🤯 this game is stunning! #Steam #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

#Steam tags are broken for market research. That is why we've created a tool that allows you to do #gamedev market research by explaining your concept in plain english 💬 or even by searching with example images 🖼️

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

We've made it super easy to locate games on our map of every game on #Steam so you can quickly spy on market saturation and trends in a single interactive visualisation #gamedev #indiedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

What if your card draws were timed to a beat or our boss fights were concerts? The Rhythmic Roguelike Deckbuilder segment is real, it's growing, and 56% of its games haven't launched yet. Game Oracle maps niches like this before they're crowded 🗺️ #gamedev #indiedev #Steam

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Indie devs: your competitors' reviews are a goldmine you're not mining. Game Oracle analysed the casual alchemy crafty puzzle segment and found players are screaming for: ✅ Better UI as content scales ✅ Meaningful hints (not trial-and-error) ✅ More depth and replayability #gamedev #indiegame

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

This is every game on #Steam. Mapped. Hover over clusters of similar games & Game Oracle tells you whether it's heating up or cooling down. Right now? The 2D Idle/Incremental cluster is running +221.6% wishlist growth The whole #gamedev market. At a glance.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Jennie is bringing amazing #gamedev market insights in the Game Oracle newsletter 🙌

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Hot take: pachinko + deckbuilding + roguelite = one of Steam's best-performing niches right now 🎰 Physics Roguelite Tactics games are pulling $81.4K median revenue and 1.1K median wishlists, with 160% wishlist growth. Game Oracle is the market intelligence tool #gamedev didn't know they needed 👇

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The Bureau of Fantastical & Arcane Affairs by @hipflaskgames.bsky.social is a comedic adventure about performing administrative oversight on a crumbling fantasy world. It is no.7 on our Outlier leaderboard & deserves your attention this #WishlistWednesday

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Supernova Studios have perfectly captured what that second audience is after. The thrill of being hunted down by a tornado, trying to survive with your pals! 🌪️

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

In that video we identified how there are two overlapping audiences in this segment. Those that want a realistic simulation w/ hard science 👨‍🔬 & those that just want to chase a storm & pretend to be Glen Powell from Twisters 🤠

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We're a data scientist & digital marketer that research the #Steam marketplace. We recently made a video about Storm Chasing games, an underserved niche in the PC gaming world www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Dv...

youtube.com

Indie Storm Games are a Goldmine... Here's Why

YouTube video by Game Oracle

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I think Supernova Studios have identified their audience perfectly with Funnel Runners, a high stakes co-op about escaping an insane tornado. Here is why 👇️ #gamedev #indiedev

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Every dot represents a collection of similar games on #Steam, coloured by market density (how many games there are). Most clusters are crowded, but some areas of #gamedev are unexplored. Any market gaps peak your interest?

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Honest question: when you're pitching a new game idea, what's the scariest part? 👇

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Not your usual #ScreenshotSaturday post, but here is the entire #Steam marketplace in a single image. My wife thinks it looks like a skull...

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

You can read all about our new uniqueness score here and why we implemented it: www.game-oracle.com/blog/v61

game-oracle.com

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Trees Hate You is uniquely defined by its "rage comedy" design, where the environment, specifically the trees and flora, is weaponized to actively deceive, bully, and troll the player with unexpected traps and fake-outs rather than relying on precise platforming skills. Genius concept tbh.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

We recently updated Game Oracle to introduce a more stable and accurate Uniqueness Score. You can read all about it in our latest blog (see the comments below 👇️) but I wanted to highlight the most unique outlier on our new outliers leaderboard: Trees Hate You by @tykenn.games

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Game Oracle is 100% bootstrapped, built by me and my wife. No funding, no VC. We keep the lights on with contracting work because we believe indie devs deserve serious market research tools without the enterprise price tag. Big dreams. Finding a way. 💪

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

We also completely rebuilt the Steam Map with D3.js 🗺️ New features: 🔍 Zoom & Pan 🏷️ Cluster previews with top tags & titles on hover 📊 New Overlay Stats: Saturation, Sales, Wishlists, Revenue, SteamDB Score One interactive view of the entire Steam marketplace.

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Ross Burton @rossburton.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

New in v6.1 → Uniqueness Score (0–10) It measures the average distance between your game and its 20 nearest competitors. That's it. 🔑 Key insight: you can be in a saturated genre (like Co-Op Horror) and still score highly, if your LOCAL creative space is wide open.

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