Board games and tabletop RPGs have had large followings for decades, and over the years they have begun to combine with the ever-growing video game industry as well. This includes classics likeDungeons and Dragonsgetting videogame adaptations and popular videogames getting board games. The newRainbow Six Siegeboard game,6: Siege, is a great example of how the latter has become an increasingly popular option.
Other board games in recent years have also been adapted from video games, and6: Siegeis not the only one to have started on Kickstarter. The trend of board games beginning their life cycle on the crowdfunding website makes sense even for larger titles. While most peripheral products that a studio puts out for a game will likely see decent sales figures, having an assurance before production can help speed things along.
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Whether it beThe Witcher 3boardgameor something else, studios that know the physical games they are creating have enough fan interest to see decent sales numbers will likely be more inclined to follow through with production. This becomes even more of a guarantee as these popular franchises shoot past their funding goals on the platform. With the money upfront, there is a safety net for production that helps to eliminate a portion of the financial guessing and guarantees an already sold product before the money has even been spent.
Funding, Features, and The Future of Kickstarter Games
While financials are likely one of the largest factors for why fans are seeing some of their favorite franchises move possible board game productions to Kickstarter, word of mouth is likely another part of it. As more fans enjoy both digital and physical gaming options, the need for multimillion-dollar ad campaigns changes. Many video game enthusiasts are used to seeing ads for series likeSuper Marioor the newBattlefield 2042, but not as many board games receive the same attention.
Given how well this approach seems to go over, it is likely that it will continue to be used for adaptations of both AAA games and indie titles. Newer games likePhantom AbyssandElden Ringcould see similar treatment in the future if there are enough people that want it. The method provides a financing model that has some benefits when it comes to money management, and it will likely be adopted by more studios because of that. It could spread into video games as well.
While it is not likely that this will translate into major AAA games likeCall of Dutybecoming Kickstarter campaigns, some notable titles have used the method in the past.Shovel Knightbecame a major success on Kickstarter and theShenmueseries used the platform to secure funds forShenmue 3. If the trend continues, there could be more instances where fans see both small and mid-size studios turning to the platform to gauge interest in a title and secure its future.
Rainbow Six Siegeis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
