A bespoke one-day clinic in Óbidos, Portugal in April 2026. Selected indie studios met the publishing team behind some of the most distinctive titles in independent games: for a publisher talk, one-to-one sessions, and honest conversations.
The Publisher
Dear Villagers are a French independent publisher with a reputation for backing games with strong artistic identity and distinctive voices. They have worked across multiple genres and platforms, consistently championing projects that take creative risks.
Studios attending the clinic got direct access to the publishing team for candid feedback on their games, their pitches, and their plans.
How It Went
The clinic brought together a small group of selected studios at the Óbidos Technology Park. The day opened with a talk by the Dear Villagers publishing team on what they look for in a game, what kills deals, and what makes a pitch land. This was followed by individual one-to-one sessions with each studio.
Studios came prepared with playable builds and pitches. The feedback was direct, useful, and in several cases led to follow-up conversations after the event.
What Studios Said
"Getting honest feedback directly from a publisher, in a small group setting, is something you simply cannot replicate at a conference."
Studio participant, April 2026 clinic
"I came in thinking my pitch was solid. I left knowing exactly what needed to change. That is worth more than months of guessing."
Studio participant, April 2026 clinic
"The location, the format, the access to the publisher: all of it was exactly what our studio needed at this stage."
Studio participant, April 2026 clinic
"Óbidos is a surprisingly good setting for this kind of event. Small enough to have real conversations, far enough from the noise."
Studio participant, April 2026 clinic