Hi everyone. This will be a little different than our usual blog posts as we have some unfortunate news to share, but we hope you’ll stick around to the end to hear what we have to say.

We were recently saddened to learn that the wonderful Alexey Nechaev, who we had the pleasure of working with back in 2019 as the freelance composer of INMOST, has suffered serious heart-related issues, causing him to be hospitalised. At just 29 years old, he is currently unable to return to work due to his illness.

Although he has now been diagnosed with a heart-defect, his unrelenting passion and dedication to his craft led to overwork and burnout, which no doubt has contributed to the severe life-threatening health complications. Prior to his hospitalisation, Alexey had been working on 4 projects simultaneously, each with converging deadlines. His first concern after being resuscitated was to finish the project he was due to deliver that day.

Recovery Fundraiser
To help support Alexey through his recovery, both the developer duo at Hidden Layer Games and Chucklefish will be donating 100% of the game’s sales via a sale fundraiser we’re hosting over on Steam between Thursday 29th August from 10 AM PDT - Thursday 12th September at 10 AM PDT.

50% of the proceeds will be going to Alexey Nechaev and his family directly, and the other 50% to a heart health charity. We hope that you join us in wishing Alexey the best in his recovery!

You can find the discounted INMOST Game + Music Bundle here. INMOST will be 70% off for the duration of the fundraiser sale.

If you have already played INMOST, thank you! You can also directly support Alexey by picking up the beautifully melancholic INMOST Soundtrack on Steam, which as the composer he receives 100% of the profits from any purchase of the OST since release, now, and forever.

INMOST is a profoundly moving game that delves into the depths of grief and hope, weaving highly emotional themes in a short narrative experience. Alexey Nechaev’s breathtaking soundtrack is part of the lifeblood of this adventure, masterfully crafting the atmosphere and highlighting the poignant narrative moments. His unparalleled talent and creativity has shaped the soul of INMOST, and the game would not have reached the same emotional heights without his extraordinary contribution.

Sustainability and health in game development
Lastly, we would like to emphasize the critical importance of maintaining both physical and mental health within our industry.

As an independent studio, we have the unique privilege of setting our own timelines, which allows us to prioritise the well-being of our development team and prevent burnout. Over the years, we have committed to a zero-crunch policy and, following the global pandemic, our team at Chucklefish has transitioned to a 4-day working week. These significant cultural shifts have resulted in a happier and healthier team, free from the stresses of creative burnout.

We recognize that each developer, studio and team has unique requirements, but we hope that by sharing Alexey’s story we can encourage the broader games industry to adopt more proactive health and wellness practices. It is imperative to avoid the unfortunate stories of burnout and stress-related issues that have plagued so many, including well-documented cases such as Alexey’s, and countless others.

Thank you for reading and we hope you’ll join us in supporting Alexey’s full recovery.