Twitch streamer Mizkif has revealed that he lost almost $300,000 because his video game, Unrooted, did not sell well.
He shared his thoughts in a YouTube video called “I failed Again.” In this video, he explained that after just two weeks on Steam, his game sold only 3,000 copies.
Even though the game received good reviews, it did not become popular like its inspiration, Jump King, did in 2020.
Mizkif mentioned that creating the game cost a total of $302,880. This amount included salaries for the team that worked on it for five years and a giveaway for the Nintendo Switch.
From sales, the game made $24,099.90. However, after Steam took a 33% cut and the revenue was split with the team members, Mizkif ended up with $12,049.95.
This means he has lost $290,930.05 so far from this project.
Even with these huge losses, Mizkif said making the game was still a valuable experience, though he admitted he was upset about the low sales.
He expressed in the video, “I’m obviously very upset. I did not expect this game to do this poorly.” He reflected on the flaws in both the game and his vision for it.
Mizkif noted that Unrooted is a challenging platformer, which may have discouraged potential players.
He confirmed that changes, like adding checkpoints, are on the way to make the game more appealing.
Mizkif also pointed out that 3D platformers, such as Chained Together, are currently very popular, which means he may have missed the mark on what gamers want right now.
Mizkif shared that while he is disappointed with the sales results, he still thinks that developing Unrooted was a worthwhile endeavor. He mentioned, “I will look back at this in a few years and feel happy about it.”
He pointed out that many content creators are trying their hands at game development. For instance, YouTuber ‘videogamedunkey’ started a game publishing company in 2022 and released a game called Animal Well earlier this year. Additionally, his group, OTK, is working on creating an RPG game.
Despite the financial loss, Mizkif feels proud to have produced a game that is out in the world. He hopes that Unrooted may still generate revenue in the future, even if the initial response has not met expectations.
Looking ahead, he is optimistic that the updates he’s planning will help improve the game and attract more players. Mizkif recognizes the need to adapt to changing trends within the gaming community to better align with what players are currently interested in.
