A Reminder that Indie Game Hosting Site Itch.io is Only Run by 6 People

I have always found it impressive that indie games are as good as they are in the modern era. I say this not only because they have to compete with smaller budgets against juggernaut AAA titles and studios, but because the majority of them are created by just a handful, and sometimes literally one, individual(s). But you know what is just as impressive? A website host, itch.io, has been accomplishing the same astonishing feat for the last five years.

I still can't believe @itchio is just 6 people. It has 100,000 games now and it still runs like a dream. Is this the website with the biggest traffic-to-staff-size ratio in the world https://t.co/iZNnzylEBH

— Hafiz Azman (@7thbeat) July 17, 2018

Since it was founded back in 2013 as a website for users to host, sell, and download indie video games, itch.io has hosted approximately 100,000 games and items. In that time, no more than six people have helped keep the site running smoothly:

• Leaf Corcoran (Founder) – designed moonscript, the programming language itch.io is made with. And its web framework. And, like, everything else. Probably a robot.
• Amos Wenger – develops the refinery tools and backend — from the itch.io command-line upload tools, to the desktop application, and everything in between.
• Natasha Dawn Thomas – takes care of payouts, keeps the evil spammers at bay, and shows boundless patience with customer tickets. Plays a mean guitar.
• Lisa Morrison – the site’s social media overlord. She keeps finding cool games to tweet about & feature on the front page somehow! Frog/lizard hybrid.
• Spencer Haye – business and writes for the blog. Show him your appreciation by commenting on his posts!
• Jesús Higueras – worked on titles such as The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide, and is now helping to develop various parts of the itch.io website and infrastructure.

What is even more impressive is that these six manage to keep the site and operations running so smoothly despite the fact that they are spread throughout the world (California, Spain, France).

For more information, be sure to check back to the site for updates, as well as all of your other nerdy news and needs!

Andrew McMahon

Andrew has been in love with video game ever since his brother was forced by their parents to let him watch him and his friends play games like Goldeneye and Super Mario 64.