Key information
Before becoming a horror staple, the developer Red Barrels struggled to secure publishing support for its debut title, Outlast. Co-founder Philippe Morin noted that the team initially expected to find a publisher within months, but their pitch was repeatedly rejected by companies prioritizing mobile gaming investments over the horror genre.
Publishers reportedly preferred investing $50,000 into ten mobile projects rather than committing $500,000 to Outlast. Morin explained that the team, while experienced in development, lacked expertise in marketing and sales, forcing them to learn these business aspects while simultaneously navigating a difficult funding landscape.
To finance the project, Red Barrels secured a $1 million investment from the Canada Media Fund. This amount proved insufficient, requiring the team to leverage personal savings, credit cards, and home mortgages. Morin described the situation as a significant financial risk that necessitated long working hours to finish the game before funds were exhausted.
The gamble ultimately succeeded, with the game selling 400,000 copies within five months. By 2018, Outlast had reached 15 million copies sold, leading to a franchise that includes two mainline entries, a DLC, and the recent multiplayer title The Outlast Trials, which recently saw a peak of 147,955 concurrent players.
