Earlier today, the eclectic Indie game publisher Merge Games posted a message to their social media accounts with news of their closure. Addressed to both their fans and the developers whose games they helped bring to market, signing off saying “Thank you for the many years of gaming.”

A small, dedicated team that spent the last 15 years bringing excellent Indie gems to fans around the world, like Bramble: The Mountain King, Spirit of the North, Frostpunk, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, and Indika among many others.

The video game industry, from top to bottom, is working through one of the most tumultuous periods in its history. Headlines are a constant mix of record profits and sales alongside lay-offs and studio closures, with no clear sign of what the future holds for many working in this industry. I think it is safe to say that this industry, this creative medium that we all love and enjoy, cannot continue this way for much longer.