All 4 Games

All 4 Games was established in 2015 as the Glasgow, Scotland-based games publishing arm for the UK broadcaster Channel 4. Founded by Colin Macdonald, the company was created to identify and support promising mobile game titles. The business model centered on leveraging its connection with the Channel 4 television network to promote and market indie mobile games, offering developers access to a broad audience and assistance throughout the development, launch, and maintenance phases of their games.

The publisher's initial focus was on the mobile gaming market, which was seen as highly accessible for developers. In its first year, All 4 Games announced a launch lineup that included titles like "Fire Fu," "Super Arc Light," and "Apestorm," all set for release in early 2016 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices. These games were developed by various independent studios, showcasing All 4 Games' commitment to supporting the indie developer community. For instance, "Super Arc Light" was created by No Code, a Glasgow-based studio composed of BAFTA award-winning developers with experience on major titles like "Alien: Isolation".

In September 2017, a significant shift occurred as All 4 Games spun out from Channel 4 to become an independent publisher, although it retained ties with the broadcaster. This transition allowed the company more freedom beyond activities that solely aligned with Channel 4's objectives, while developers could still benefit from advertising on the network. Under the leadership of Colin Macdonald, the firm aimed to assist developers who sought the freedom of self-publishing but lacked the marketing budget or resources. Subsequently, in December 2019, All 4 Games rebranded to Indie Champions. This change reflected a strategic pivot from a mobile-first approach to including PC and console games, acknowledging the increasing competitiveness of the mobile platform. The new identity as Indie Champions was intended to better articulate the company's core mission of championing the work of independent developers, often by connecting them with a network of influencers. The company is now considered deadpooled.

Keywords: mobile game publisher, indie games, Channel 4, game development, game marketing, Colin Macdonald, Glasgow, Scotland, Indie Champions, PC games, console games, Super Arc Light, Fire Fu, Apestorm, third-party publishing, self-publishing support, influencer network, mobile game market, puzzle games, arcade games