What happens when an eight‑figure paper dream collapses—and becomes your chance to take back control? For Dieter Schöller, founder of Headup Games, it meant a near‑total stock wipeout, a buyback of his studio for EUR 500,000, and rebuilding on his own terms.

In this episode of “behind the scenes,” Dieter traces his arc from law student and Wolfenstein modder to indie publisher just as digital distribution upended boxed retail. Early flops forced a pivot to a flexible, “no‑BS” licensing model—then an unexpected hit, Bridge Constructor, shot to #1 in 91 countries and spawned mash‑ups with Portal and The Walking Dead. COVID’s boom brought an acquisition by Thunderful—and then the bust. Faced with sell, shut, or buy back, Dieter chose the hard path: protect most jobs, split publishing and development, and keep empathy and no crunch at the core.

You will learn:

• How Headup’s licensing‑first pivot saved the company after early failures.
• How Bridge Constructor became a global premium hit and landed the Portal license.
• Why a COVID‑era “dream exit” turned into a near‑wipeout—and what that revealed.
• What it takes to buy back your studio and rebuild with clear focus.
• Why mid‑sized indie groups may be the healthiest path between giants and micro‑studios.

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