[Ep571] Is Steam propping up mobile?

[Ep571] Is Steam propping up mobile?

Author: Butterscotch Shenanigans May 6, 2026 Duration: 51:12

In episode 571 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into whether Steam has quietly become the discovery engine that keeps mobile gaming afloat and what that means for indie devs trying to build a cross-platform strategy. They walk through the realities of mobile pricing, broken app store algorithms, and why chasing discoverability on Google Play or the App Store often feels like shouting into a void.

Support How Many Dudes!
Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes
Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI
Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes

00:00 Cold Open
00:21 Introduction and Welcome
01:40 Achievements Development and Ludokit Overview
13:40 Mobile Strategy and Pricing Decisions
27:45 The State of Mobile Gaming Discoverability
29:49 The Role of Steam in Game Success
32:48 Cross-Platform Strategies and Pricing
38:57 The Impact of Subscription Services on Game Sales
43:49 Algorithmic Challenges in Mobile Game Marketing
51:50 Final Thoughts on the Future of Indie Games

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Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. 

We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com!

Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net.

★ Support this podcast ★

Pull up a chair and pour something warm. Each week, the folks behind the award-winning indie studio Butterscotch Shenanigans-the creators of Crashlands-sit down to untangle the messy, rewarding, and often absurd reality of making games. Coffee with Butterscotch feels less like a formal broadcast and more like eavesdropping on a freewheeling conversation between friends who’ve been in the trenches. You’ll hear them dissect the nuts and bolts of development, from art pipelines to bug-squashing, but the discussion rarely stays in the technical lane. It veers into the philosophy of creativity, the rollercoaster of running a small business, and the strange habits that fuel productivity. The tone is unfiltered and genuinely funny, because the hosts don’t separate the work from the life surrounding it. This podcast digs into how to solve problems, ship your projects, and keep your sanity while doing it, all served with a heavy dose of camaraderie and self-deprecating humor. It’s a weekly dose of insight and laughter for anyone curious about the stories behind the screen, whether you're a seasoned developer, an aspiring creator, or just someone who enjoys peeking behind the curtain of how things are made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
Podcast Episodes
[Ep541] What happens during a Steam Daily Deal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:33
In episode 541 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers break down the strategy behind Steam Daily Deals and how pricing choices ripple through sales, regions, and player engagement. They explore the psychology of dis…
[Ep540] Can Youtube Shorts Boost Wishlists? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
In episode 540 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into the messy art of indie game pricing, from Levelhead’s strange sales patterns to how discounts really move the needle. They share experiments with YouTub…
# [Ep539] Store Fees Are Crushing Indie Game Studios [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:50
In episode 539 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers look into how platform fees and distribution monopolies shape the survival odds for indie studios. Alongside updates on Crashlands 2 and Levelhead, they answer l…
[Ep538] Silksong's Chinese Translation and the Challenge of Sequels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:27
In episode 538 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers unpack the chaos of a rogue translator derailing Silksong’s Chinese localization, the rollercoaster of post-launch game reviews, and the uphill climb of making s…
[Ep537] The Silksong Effect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:13
In episode 537 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers look into the buzz around Hollow Knight: Silksong, exploring how it’s reshaping release calendars and why the original Hollow Knight became an indie legend. Cras…
[Ep536] What's a Steam Wishlist Worth? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:29
In episode 536 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into the misconception that Steam wishlists lose value over time and what that really means for indie game developers. They also explore the risks and reward…
[Ep535] Where’d all the money go in game dev? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:55
In episode 535 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dive into the complexities and pitfalls of live service games, highlighting recent industry trends and discussing how giant corporations handle their gaming acqu…
[Ep533] Link Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:49
This week, we talk about game jams, brands, and networking. Work the room, shake hands, and collect stories. The most valuable connections are the genuine ones — people who share your context and get what you’re doing. T…
[Ep532] How Many Dudes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
In this episode, we discuss alignment, process shifts, and the power of a good hook. A good idea alone isn’t enough to stop the scroll, but an absurd twist on the familiar might do the trick! How do you turn a question l…