UPDATE: Indie developers at French studio Permadeath are reeling after a series of promotional blunders by Valve left their game, Planet Centauri, struggling for visibility and sales. Initially launched in full in December 2024, the game was pegged for success with over 138,000 wishlists on Steam. However, it only managed to sell 581 units in its first week, raising alarms among the developers.
The situation worsened when a bug on Valve’s end prevented notifications from reaching those who had expressed interest in the game. This led to a disappointing launch and subsequent setbacks in gaining traction. Developer Laurent Lechat expressed his disbelief at the numbers, stating that it “fell incomprehensibly short” of expectations, especially after selling over 100,000 copies during its early access phase.
JUST IN: In an effort to remedy the situation, Valve reached out to Permadeath and offered a new promotional opportunity. Set for November 12, 2025, the developers were promised a spot in Steam’s Daily Deal spotlight, aiming to boost their visibility on the platform. However, this date also coincided with Valve’s announcement of a new wave of hardware, overshadowing Planet Centauri’s moment in the spotlight.
The result? Valve’s storefront was flooded with attention on new hardware, leaving the indie game lost in the shuffle. Despite the unfortunate timing, the spotlight still managed to generate an additional 5,000 sales, giving the team some hope to continue their work. “It’s just bad luck, and we must accept it,” Lechat commented, expressing a mix of frustration and determination.
The series of events has led the developers to describe their game as “cursed,” with Lechat stating, “Over the years, I really get the feeling that Planet Centauri is cursed.” The team has had to pivot quickly, reducing post-launch support sooner than anticipated due to limited early sales and chart presence.
Valve’s apology and subsequent promotion attempts reflect the ongoing challenges indie developers face in a competitive gaming landscape, where visibility can make or break a title. As the gaming community watches closely, Permadeath’s journey stands as a testament to resilience amid adversity.
Looking ahead, the team is hopeful that the sales boost will allow them to survive for at least another year and finish their second game. The gaming community remains eager to see how this saga unfolds, as the clock ticks down to the new promotion and its potential impact on the future of Planet Centauri.
