How 11 Bit Studios' Frostpunk is closing in on 1.5m sales

pcgamesinsider.biz:

With 1.4 million sales under its belt, Frostpunk shows no signs of stopping.

11 Bit Studios’ frozen city-builder is no stranger to sales landmarks, earning its first quarter-of-a-million within 66 hours. And publishing director Pawel Feldman (pictured) says that the glacial city-builder is about to hit another milestone.

“We're actually a step away from crossing 1.5m milestone,” he says.

“In the digital era a successful game can have a very long tail and that's what we're seeing with Frostpunk.

“It's still a young game and had its first anniversary a few weeks ago. Six solid updates have been added to the game largely expanding the entire product and from a gamer's perspective - the experience and its replay value.”

Frostpunk’s enduring success and long tail has proven value in 11 Bit's position outside of blockbuster games. The developer has found a niche in the grim, “provocative” line trodden by both Frostpunk and break-out hit This War of Mine.

“We've clearly defined our way for the future after This War of Mine," Feldman says. 

"We've established our philosophy of creation to lead us to embrace meaningful entertainment. Games that make you think even after you stop playing them."

While it’s nice that 11 Bit’s games are profitable, the studio says it’s important to create titles that leave players with nagging questions once the credits roll.

“Think of mainstream as Hollywood movies and of our games like the movies you can see on Sundance Festival," Feldman says. "They're top quality like Hollywood but they're supposed to not only entertain you but also leave with afterthoughts.”

Try, try and try again.

Frostpunk’s success also came in large part to a production that let the team take its time on nailing down the