The gaming industry is no stranger to upheaval, but when two seasoned veterans from Neon Doctrine break away to form a new venture, it’s bound to raise eyebrows. Meet Goldpact Goblins, a developer services firm co-founded by Vladislav Tsopljak and Iain Garner, the duo behind the East Asia-focused publisher Neon Doctrine. After parting ways with Neon Doctrine following its merger with Raw Fury last year, they’re back with a bold new mission: to empower small and midsize developers with 'clever, practical, and inventive strategies'—without taking a cut of their revenue. And this is the part most people miss: they’re not just another publisher. But here’s where it gets controversial: in an industry dominated by revenue-sharing models, Goldpact Goblins is betting on a different approach—one that lets developers keep their gold in their pockets.
Launched in January, the company has already inked deals with six developers across China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Korea. They’re also joined by Gordon Van Dyke, a former Raw Fury executive who recently revived Kingdom Two Crowns developer Stumpysquid, as a publishing advisor. But don’t call them a publisher—they’re quick to clarify that they’re not in the business of revenue sharing or funding. Instead, they offer bespoke, 'community-first' solutions tailored to studios needing support in areas like community management, marketing, social media outreach, production, business development, focus testing, QA, branding, and strategy. These services are even available in Simplified Chinese through a dedicated team in Mainland China.
Why the emphasis on 'not a publisher'? Garner explains, 'Those are core parts of publishing, and they’re not what we want to focus on. We’ve deliberately avoided anything publisher-related to avoid misconceptions and the flood of pitches we can’t consider.' Their target audience? Developers with existing funding, publishers setting up new pipelines, and funds looking to ensure their investments are well-managed. But they’re not limiting themselves—if you’ve got a game and need help with an update, event, or specific issue, they’re ready to jump in with practical solutions.
And this is where it gets even more intriguing: Tsopljak points out that traditional revenue-sharing and recoup models often fail smaller studios, especially in regions like Southeast Asia, China, and South America. 'We’ve seen developers find success but struggle to stay afloat due to aggressive revenue splits and passive investors,' he says. 'Our goal is to provide a sustainable model that helps local industries grow and lets developers keep their earnings after launch.'
Based in Singapore, Goldpact Goblins is an 'international effort' with deep roots in China, mirroring Neon Doctrine’s approach of working with Taiwanese and Chinese developers despite the complex relationship between the two nations. But they’re not tied to any single market. 'If someone needs help in a region we’re not heavily focused on, like Latin America or Japan, we’ll happily connect them with specialists,' Garner adds.
Why the name 'Goblins'? 'It’s about being hardworking, resourceful, and finding unconventional solutions,' Garner explains. 'Vlad and I love diving into new projects and getting our hands dirty—it’s always been our style, and we’re sticking to it.'
But here’s the question that’ll spark debate: Can Goldpact Goblins truly disrupt the industry’s reliance on revenue-sharing models? Or is their approach too niche to make a significant impact? Let us know what you think in the comments—we’re all ears!
