Innersloth's Forest Willard warns developers against toxic publishing funding deals, citing Outersloth's limits

Innersloth co-founder Forest Willard says he has reviewed publishing deals that block developers from earning money after launch. Speaking at Seattle Loves Indies Creator Expo 2026, Willard called some contracts "truly abysmal deals for games that do not deserve that." Willard oversees Innersloth's Outersloth fund, an alternative financing model built by developers for developers. He says Outersloth cannot replace the industry's predatory publishing deals at scale.

Willard says some developers sign deals that fund only their "dream game," a result he calls an acceptable outcome.
He reserves blame for deals that leave developers unable to earn money once a game ships.
"There's some really bad deals - I can definitely blame people for offering those." - Forest Willard, Co-founder, Innersloth
Willard did not name specific publishers or disclose the exact contract terms he reviewed.

Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender says contracts work best when risk sits with the party best able to absorb it.
"So many publishers have told devs... We will essentially take the scraps of most of what you make." - Tim Bender, CEO, Hooded Horse
Willard's "truly abysmal" deals mirror Bender's description of publishers pushing financial risk onto developers least equipped to bear it.
Neither executive names the publishers behind these terms.

Willard says some developers continue working with publishers who impose abusive terms.
"They must be doing something incredible [because] it doesn't actually make sense to me." - Forest Willard, Co-founder, Innersloth
He compared the situation to a hostage scenario, urging developers to "blink twice" if trapped in bad deals.
Willard says he has considered actively campaigning against such deal structures but has not done so.

Willard says Outersloth fills gaps only "occasionally" and cannot fund every indie studio facing predatory offers.
"It can't be. No one can ever be enough." - Forest Willard, Co-founder, Innersloth
He says even "a billion dollars" would not let him sign every developer stuck in a bad deal.
Willard entered development after saving money from a prior role at Microsoft, calling himself a "self-induced nepo baby."

For Publishers & Developers: Benchmark incoming publisher term sheets against developer-run funders' offers before granting exclusivity.
For Investors & VC: Add post-launch developer payout terms to diligence on indie publishing labels.