A full day with Kirill Akimkin, Co-Founder of Polden Publishing, a data-driven indie publisher backing co-op games, simulators and friendslop. 6 indie studios from Portugal, Spain and Italy pitched their games, received direct feedback, and shared a networking dinner in Óbidos.
The Publisher
Polden are a data-driven indie games publisher, sharing their catalog, process and verified performance data in the open. They back co-op games, simulators and friendslop for PC and consoles.
Six studios attended, from Portugal, Spain and Italy. Each got direct access to Kirill Akimkin for candid feedback on their games, their pitches, and their plans, followed by a networking dinner at Óbidos.
How It Went
"I flew in from Spain for the day. Another Spanish studio had recommended that I make the effort and it really was worth the trip."
Studio participant, September 2026 clinic
"Polden's whole approach is data first. It meant our session felt less like a pitch and more like a proper look at whether our game would sell."
Studio participant, September 2026 clinic
"We publish co-op games and share everything we learn. Shadows are shortest at noon, and that's what we're going for with every studio we back."
Kirill Akimkin, Co-Founder, Polden Publishing
"Four of us came from studios across Portugal. Sitting in the same room and comparing notes afterwards was almost as useful as the clinic itself."
Studio participant, September 2026 clinic