GamesSurvivalNightingaleFormer BioWare lead says his new survival game is only $30 because “there’s only so many dollars to go around” in a competitive genreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesSurvivalNightingaleFormer BioWare lead says his new survival game is only $30 because “there’s only so many dollars to go around” in a competitive genreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Inflexion Games)

Having spoken to Mass Effect veteran Aaryn Flynn, CEO of Inflexion Games - the developers working on upcoming survival crafting gameNightingale- it’s clear he’s aware of the stiff competition vying for our attention in the genre. When our game libraries are saturated with well-rounded titles likeValheim, Palworld, and Sons of the Forest, pulling in an extensive player base for Nightingale isn’t going to be an easy task. But is all that competition so bad?
Of course, for us, it means more of the games that we love to choose from. But how do the devs deal with the fact that our base-building instinct is now further split around where we spend our hard earned cash? Flynn told us how that kind of competitive pressure affected the Nightingale developers, and what they’re doing to draw players in.
The short version? Use it as fuel, and don’t overprice the darn thing!
“It’s cool to see survival crafting having a moment. I think it’s great” He says, and it’s true “There might be short term competition, there’s only so many dollars to go around and somebody’s gotta say ‘I think I can afford one of these games, so I’ll choose this one over that one.’ But I think long term it all nets out and everything’s elevated.”
Competition, historically, has given developers of not just games more push toward making whatever it is they’re making the best that it can be. So, Flynn reckons, the more people out there making survival crafting games, the more visibility for the genre, the more ideas being thrown around for game designers, and overall “a bigger, more interesting melting pot of creativity.”
There’s no reason for players to give us the benefit of the doubt.Aaryn Flynn
There’s no reason for players to give us the benefit of the doubt.
Speaking about the rise of similar games throughout Nightingale’s development, Flynn notes that their success “Shows you that the genre is really ripe for innovation.” And that doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, he says “That’s super exciting. I think that’s the sign of a healthy genre.”
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“We know it’s our first game, from a new studio, and so there’s no reason for players to give us the benefit of the doubt,” so the act of pricing a game that looks like it belongs in a higher price bracket at just $30 is really going to improve their chances of being adopted at launch.
Nightingale comes out Tuesday 20th February, so if it looks like the kind of survival crafter you’re interested in, now’s the time towishlist the game on Steamand show the devs that their cheap and cheerful approach is working.
There’s a lot of competition around thebest survival games.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”