The recent disappearance of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which was on a mission to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, has had an unexpected impact on the indie gaming industry.
GameRant reports that games like Iron Lung by David Szymanski have seen a significant increase in sales following the unfortunate news of the missing submarine.
The incident, which occurred on June 18, has captured the attention of gamers and horror enthusiasts alike, drawing parallels to the eerie and claustrophobic experiences depicted in these ocean-themed horror games.
Gamers Buy Indie Horror Game Following Titanic Submarine Incident
Iron Lung, a short horror indie game released by developer David Szymanski in March 2022, takes players on a chilling journey inside a rusty, cramped submarine.
In contrast with typical underwater environments, the game immerses players in an eerie ocean of blood on an alien moon, where the natural world has been destroyed by an unknown event.
Despite its simple gameplay mechanics, Iron Lung successfully induces feelings of terror and claustrophobia, appealing to players looking for a dramatic horror experience.
'Iron Lung' Creator Has Mixed Emotions for Surging Sales
David Szymanski himself took to Twitter to share a screenshot demonstrating a nearly tripled surge in sales of Iron Lung since June 19, directly attributing the increase to the news of the missing Titan submersible.
Szymanski expressed his mixed emotions, stating, "This feels so wrong," acknowledging the eerie connection between his game and the real-life tragedy unfolding beneath the waves.
Recent reviews on the game's Steam page further substantiate the correlation, with players mentioning their use of the Logitech F710 gamepad, the very controller used to navigate the Titanic submarine.
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Similar Ocean-Themed Games See Similar Spike in Sales
GameRant reports that 'Full Fathom,' an oceanic survival horror game, has also found itself added to numerous wishlists as players gravitate towards these eerie experiences of being trapped in deteriorating submarines.
Monad, one of the developers behind Full Fathom, expressed their unease on social media, stating, "Being associated with the Titanic submarine disaster is quite off-putting... It's the whole benefiting from people's (almost certain) deaths that makes it feel weird."
These sentiments highlight the moral dilemma faced by indie developers as their games unintentionally become intertwined with real-life tragedies.
Game Developer Address 'Dark Humor' Associated With Game
While some may find amusement in the dark humor surrounding these games' sudden rise in popularity, GamingBible reports that David Szymanski later clarified his intentions behind creating Iron Lung, emphasizing that the real-life situation is indeed horrific.
He tweeted, "I made Iron Lung the most nightmarish thing I could think of, and knowing real people are in that situation right now is pretty horrific."
The unexpected sales boost brings mixed emotions for these indie developers as they grapple with the juxtaposition of financial success and the tragedy that inspired it.
Iron Lung is currently available on PC, offering players a chance to embark on their own nightmarish journey through the depths of an otherworldly ocean.
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