Today marks a significant milestone for Ogre Head Studio(OHS) as we celebrate a decade of creativity and passion. For those who might not be familiar, we're an independent game development studio dedicated to crafting experiences for both PC and consoles, infused with elements of Indian folklore and culture. Since our inception in 2014, the journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. Whether you're a fellow developer or a gaming enthusiast, this blog post aims to shed light on our studio, our journey, and how we've not only survived but thrived over the past ten years.
The story of OHS began in 2014 with a simple yet ambitious goal: to ignite change within the Indian gaming industry. At that time, the landscape was predominantly focused on mobile games, particularly casual and cricket-themed titles. As a dedicated PC gamer who found solace in the fantastical realms of Warcraft, Warhammer, and Middle-earth, I felt a void within the industry—an absence of opportunities to work on games that truly resonated with my passion. After spending five years immersed in the industry as a character and 3D artist, working on a variety of remarkable projects, I made the bold decision to establish my own studio. Our mission? To create games rooted in Indian culture and folklore, tailored for a global audience. And so, the journey began with our inaugural project, Asura.
Within a mere six months, we found ourselves on the brink of depletion, our modest capital exhausted. As a last resort, I ventured to the Dubai Game Expo armed with a demo of Asura. Fortunately, our perseverance paid off as we secured a client, providing the crucial support needed to sustain our studio while we continued to develop our game. This marked the emergence of two distinct avenues for OHS: the creation of original IPs and engaging in co-development.
Asura emerged as one of the pioneering indie PC games from India—a feat achieved without the luxury of a blueprint or existing case studies to guide us. Undeterred, we embarked on a global journey, showcasing our game at numerous events. Along the way, we garnered recognition and accolades, contributing to the growing anticipation surrounding Asura's release.
After three years of dedicated development and extensive travel, Asura finally made its debut in 2017, met with both critical acclaim and commercial success. With the assistance of Chinese and Japanese publishers, we facilitated distribution in those regions, while managing self-publishing elsewhere.
Despite our best efforts, penetrating the console market presented formidable challenges. Importing dev-kits proved to be a logistical nightmare due to customs and government regulations. Although partnering with a publisher could have eased the process, we remained steadfast in our commitment to self-publishing, prioritizing our independence above all else.
The release of Asura marked a pivotal moment for our studio, earning us critical acclaim and recognition across the industry. We followed up with the release of a free DLC titled the Vengeance Edition, further enriching the player experience.
Post-Asura, we embarked on the prototyping phase of our next project—a turn-based game devoid of RNG or randomness, setting a distinct design goal. Despite making significant progress and preparing to showcase a working build at GDC in 2020, our plans were abruptly derailed by the onset of the pandemic. Upon reflection, we found ourselves dissatisfied with the demo and ultimately made the decision to start anew.
Presently, we're deeply immersed in the development of our second title, Yodha. Set in a fantastical world inspired by the folklore and myths of ancient India, Yodha is a turn-based deck-builder that pushes the boundaries of creativity and innovation. While we've kept gameplay details under wraps, showcasing the game exclusively at developer events and behind closed doors, we're excited to share more in the near future.
As we commemorate this milestone, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported and encouraged us throughout this incredible journey. Stay tuned for more updates on Yodha—we can't wait to share what we've been working on. Do join our official Discord server for the latest updates.
Be epic!
Team Ogre Head