The publisher of Manor Lords, Hooded Horse, has been at the center of a recent discussion concerning indie developers and the difficulties of early access. Earlier in the week, Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender got into a debate with Hinterland CEO Raphael van Lierop, who called Manor Lords a "pretty interesting case study in the pitfalls of early access." While that argument has since been settled, Bender has continued to stress both his and Hooded Horse's support for the devs on their roster.
"Sustainability is something we think about a lot," Bender says in an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun. "But usually, we think about it in relation to developers." In fact, as Hooded Horse is predominantly owned by individuals, with the majority of shares sitting with Bender and his wife, the publisher can be more relaxed when it comes to demanding "endless growth" or relentless updates on profits.
