Every now and then, a game truly innovates within its genre. While countless games emulate League of Legends, Supervive stood out as a title that genuinely revolutionized the classic MOBA formula. This action-packed, fast-paced top-down brawler introduced verticality and dynamic elements like high-speed trains, aiming to shake up the genre. I personally followed its development and believed it would finally fill the void left by my waning interest in Riot’s behemoth. It seemed poised to become the game my partner and I would dedicate countless hours to. Regrettably, that hasn’t materialized.
Upon its initial reveal, the excitement surrounding Supervive was palpable. Prominent streamers like Tyler ‘Tyler1’ Steinkamp and Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont praised its unique gameplay, showcasing its potential in creator cups with renowned commentators Clayton ‘Captain Flowers’ Raines and Isaac ‘Azael’ Cummings-Bentley. With such a stellar reception, Theorycraft appeared ready to challenge Riot’s dominance, positioning Supervive as one of 2025’s most anticipated releases.
Supervive seemingly retains strong player approval, with 84% of nearly 13,000 Steam reviews being positive, and recent feedback at 82%, indicating ‘very positive’ sentiment. This is a commendable achievement for a multiplayer indie game in today’s saturated market. However, the raw numbers tell a different story. After peaking at 47,913 players during its early access launch, Supervive’s Steam concurrent player count has steadily declined. Its 1.0 launch in July saw a peak of just over 15,000 players, but in recent weeks, this number has struggled to reach 1,000. While Theorycraft has diligently worked on improving less popular systems, such as the widely criticized Armory, concerns about the game’s long-term viability have emerged. Is Supervive in peril? Is it facing closure? I put these questions directly to Executive Producer Jessica ‘Safelocked’ Nam.
“It’s undoubtedly a challenging period,” she admits. “We launched with significant momentum during the open beta, and we were truly humbled by the immense interest in Supervive. People genuinely understood our vision.” Reflecting on her experiences playing and developing League of Legends, Nam noted a desire for “more agency, more freedom in play style, and more visceral combat.” She explains, “We believed this was our opportunity to differentiate and deliver some of the most satisfying endgame teamfights imaginable. Players recognized that and thought, ‘this is incredible,’ but the question remains: is that enough in today’s gaming landscape? We’ve had extensive discussions, and for ‘forever games,’ it simply isn’t.”
“Players seek a vibrant experience, a sense that the game is alive, and that their friends are actively playing,” she continues. “There needs to be a constant stream of new content, clear progression, and a feeling that returning to the game offers something fresh to engage with. Yet, we are a small company. How do we meet these demands for our forever game? For a deep, competitive title, players expect a rewarding return on their time investment – a clear indication that it was worthwhile. As an indie startup, we’re grappling with the fundamental challenge of ‘how do we rise to this occasion?'”
“We are actively wrestling with this,” she states. “During our reflections, we realized we were attempting to address too many diverse needs simultaneously. We were trying to broaden the game’s appeal to such an extent that we were spreading ourselves too thin, both in terms of development resources and clear direction. Supervive is inherently competitive, but it also features exploration elements. By trying to serve both the competitive player base and more casual audiences – acknowledging that there’s a spectrum of interest, not distinct groups – we found our direction became somewhat muddled, and I believe players felt that too. Resolving this became our top priority. Instead of being overextended, what if we made a firm commitment to a specific vision and focused on one core segment of our player base? Would we take that gamble? It’s a risk, but is it a worthwhile one? I ponder this constantly.”
Such a shift undeniably carries risks, especially given the game’s shrinking player base. While narrowing the focus might attract new players in the long run, drastic changes could alienate existing fans. I asked Nam about her outlook on Supervive’s current player numbers and the feasibility of its continued operation.
“It’s crucial for the player count to be higher than it is presently,” she acknowledges. “While it varies by game, the nature of Supervive demands a larger player base. Practically, as a battle royale with multiple teams and high player-count sessions, effective matchmaking requires a substantial pool of players to ensure competitive matches against opponents of similar skill. There’s a minimum threshold, though it’s somewhat fluid. I’d say right now, maintaining it is ‘taught’ – a tightrope walk.”
“Of course, we can adjust matchmaking algorithms, but there’s a limit; eventually, the math simply stops working. We’re very aware of this. We’ve questioned: ‘What are the inherent problems this battle royale faces?’ Are players asking ‘what could I have done better?’ We believe players aren’t asking that question enough – they’re often feeling overwhelmed and pressured. We see an opportunity to improve the game so that this self-reflection comes naturally, and as that happens, we believe the game will become more engaging, sticky, and exciting. Then, regardless of its current state, can we build upon that foundation to grow steadily over time? As long as we can envision a path forward, the investment is worthwhile. If we were out of ideas, it might be a different story, but there’s a clear framework; we can see how we could incrementally build our way up.”
“We are not shutting down,” she firmly assures me. “There is definitely the directional shift I mentioned – our complete focus will now be on making the game more competitive for a broader range of players. This wasn’t our previous approach, but it will be our guiding principle. It’s our North Star.”
However, the modern gaming landscape is perhaps more volatile than ever. In my years as an editor, I’ve observed countless trends, but it feels like new experiences emerge daily. This extends beyond video games to all forms of entertainment and social media. How can an indie game like Supervive, despite positive reviews and a dedicated community, survive the constant influx of ‘newness’ when even major titles like Hollow Knight Silksong quickly fade from the spotlight?
“It’s an incredibly unpredictable environment,” Nam reflects. “The commitment required to invest in a ‘forever game’ is substantial. Feeling confident in that choice matters more than ever. When I consider a younger player choosing their next game, the sheer number of options has changed dramatically. New releases are constant – every day, every minute. I feel this applies across all entertainment sectors. I’ve heard similar sentiments in the anime industry. When faced with such vast choice, you want your decision to feel rewarding, and you’re bombarded with information – reading, researching, scrolling through TikToks, seeing your social feeds filled with content, plus the influencer layer. How does one even begin to choose? I believe that’s arguably the most significant difference today.”
“Any competitive forever game faces this reality; new stimuli are constantly pushed into your mind. Silksong launched just weeks ago [at the time of this interview], preceded by Donkey Kong, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Blue Prince. No one discusses them anymore, despite them being excellent games! I do think there’s a pervasive desire and anxiety for people to ‘stay afloat’ and ‘keep track’ of everything, otherwise they feel uninformed. This is a profound truth for deep competitive games and the challenges they confront; I hear it from colleagues across the industry constantly. Games they once felt secure about now cause concern because there’s always something fresh demanding attention. How do you counter that? That’s our challenge to solve. I believe, instead of trying to be the ‘fresh new thing’ every day – which no form of entertainment can realistically sustain – the solution lies in returning to your niche and concentrating on the people who truly love and support the game.”
So, with Supervive clearly alive and thriving, what’s on the horizon? Beyond the strategic pivot, what new content can players anticipate? “We’re gearing up for a new season featuring an exciting new Hunter, new items to explore, a fresh battle pass, and new cosmetics,” she reveals with a smile. “We’re also keen on prototyping new ways for more players to engage competitively,” she adds, noting her constraint on sharing all details. “I’m holding back because I’m trying to define the exact line of what I can disclose, but we are thrilled to continue this journey.” And honestly? So am I.