New Blood Interactive Prioritizes Players Over Profit, Despite Steam’s Financial Advantages
Jakarta – Dave Oshry, co-founder of New Blood Interactive, a renowned independent game publisher, openly admits that the Steam platform offers far greater financial benefits than releasing games on consoles. This statement, made in an interview with RPG Site on Tuesday, February 22, 2026, underscores the current business reality of the games industry. However, Oshry emphasized that New Blood Interactive will not ignore its fans and remains committed to bringing their games to various console platforms.
A Philosophy of Player-First Development
“If we only cared about money, we wouldn’t be releasing anything other than Steam right now,” Oshry stated, adding with a touch of humor, “But we hate money, and we love our players.” This sentiment reflects the company’s core philosophy of prioritizing player satisfaction above maximizing profit potential.
Fast Facts: New Blood Interactive
- Founded: 2014
- Founder: Dave Oshry, David Brevik
- Genre Focus: Boomer Shooter, Retro FPS
- Popular Titles: Dusk, Amid Evil, Ultrakill
- Main Platform Release: Steam (PC), Consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
The Challenges of Console Releases
While Steam is the financially preferred platform, Oshry acknowledges the significant hurdles involved in releasing games on consoles. He described the process of porting games to platforms like Xbox and PlayStation as “painful” and often resulting in “significantly fewer” sales compared to a Steam launch.
Steam’s Flexibility vs. Console Bureaucracy
Oshry explained that Steam provides developers with greater flexibility. “Steam allows developers to do just about anything real time,” he said. This contrasts sharply with the console release process, which requires waiting weeks for adaptation and certification. “Consoles require waiting weeks or going through certification,” he added, highlighting the bureaucratic challenges developers face.
Driven by Community Demand
Despite these challenges, New Blood Interactive remains dedicated to its player base. “We do it because our players want it, right?” Oshry said. He explained that direct community requests are the primary driver behind their console releases. “When people say, ‘Please position your games on Xbox,’ we put them on Xbox. When people say, ‘Put them on PlayStation,’ we put them on PlayStation,” Oshry explained.
Preparing for the Nintendo Switch 2
New Blood Interactive is also preparing for the next generation of consoles, having received a development kit for the Nintendo Switch 2. Oshry noted that the dev kit “is not much different from the Switch 1,” which will simplify the adaptation of existing games.
Dusk Performance on Switch 2
Oshry revealed that their flagship game, Dusk, runs exceptionally well on the Switch 2, achieving “120fps with mouse controls.” He added that the game’s performance “worked very well,” indicating strong potential for optimal performance on Nintendo’s next-generation console.
Expanding Beyond Boomer Shooters: The Dungeons of Dusk RPG
New Blood Interactive has established a strong reputation in the boomer shooter genre with titles like Dusk, Amid Evil, and Ultrakill. However, the company is now expanding its portfolio with Dungeons of Dusk, an RPG adaptation of Dusk, offering a new experience with dungeon crawler and RPG elements.
A demo of Dungeons of Dusk is currently available for free via Steam Next Fest, and the full version is scheduled for release this year.
Balancing Profit and Community
Dave Oshry’s statements highlight the ongoing dilemma faced by many independent game developers: balancing financial success with the desire to serve a diverse fan base. While Steam offers a more financially rewarding path, New Blood Interactive’s commitment to console releases demonstrates their prioritization of accessibility and player satisfaction. Their readiness for the Nintendo Switch 2 further showcases their forward-thinking approach in a rapidly evolving industry. With an expanding portfolio spanning from boomer shooters to RPGs, New Blood Interactive continues to prove itself as an innovative and community-oriented publisher.