Digital Bandidos and MIX Announce New Showcase for Indie Developers

Indie publisher Digital Bandidos and Media Indie Exchange have announced a new curated showcase format which will be broadcasted before October 2025 Steam Next Fest. Registration for the so-called Indie Fan Fest is open. Further showcases are planned.

Indie publisher Digital Bandidos, founded around a year ago and expanded massive in February, has teamed up with the MIX. Media Indie Exchange, or MIX for short, was founded in 2012 with the aim of bringing indie developers and publishers together with press representatives, publishers and distribution channels through events and showcases.

And that is exactly what both sides have in mind with the new partnership. They are organising a new digital showcase called Indie Fan Fest in October. It will feature a curated selection of unreleased games that will release playable demos during the October 2025 Steam Next Fest.

The showcase will feature trailers, developer insights, gameplay, and wishlist-focused calls to action. According to Digital Bandidos and the MIX it's designed to elevate discovery right before October’s Steam Next Fest begins.

"Indie Fan Fest is about giving developers a crucial moment in the spotlight before one of Steam’s most important promotional windows.With a Steam event page and curated showcase, we’re helping teams drive wishlists, awareness, and momentum when it matters most," said Steve Escalante, CEO of Digital Bandidos.

And Justin Woodward, Co-Founder of The MIX adds: "We’re excited to team up with Digital Bandidos on a focused event that complements Next Fest and amplifies deserving indie games."

Registration for Indie Fan Fest is now open. Submission deadline is 1 August. In order for a game to be considered, a new demo must be released during Steam Next Fest in October. Furthermore, the game must not have been part of a previous Steam Next Fest. Both publishers and developers can apply. Selected teams will be informed about the next steps in July and August.

Digital Bandidos and The Mix plan additional Indie Fan Fests to support games in future Steam Next Fests.

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