Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • RPG Hub
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Horror Games
  3. REPO

"One day we were crossing our fingers for rent money and the next we had millions of players": REPO devs get candid, say the game "literally made semiwork as a studio survive" and insist future updates won't take so long

News
By Scott McCrae
Published 30 May 2025

The sudden success of the game ""pulled our tiny team away from all the fun stuff"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Two players in horror game REPO.
(Image credit: Semiwork)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

While we're all fawning over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, let's not forget 2025's other surprise hit, REPO. The viral horror indie game absolutely blew up after it was released back in February, with almost 150,000 reviews on Steam (96% of them being positive, I might add). The popularity took the game's developer Semiwork by surprise, with the lead dev saying, "We slept once and have been awake ever since" as it works away at the game's first big update (that's currently in beta).

However, the update has taken quite a while in beta, causing fans to wonder when it will be released. And – despite not really owing us anything – Semiwork has released a video titled "we're sorry – again." Semiwork dev Pontus Sundstrom opened the video by saying "we are aware that you guys are longing for the first update – we are as well. We're still on the home stretch, and there's still stuff to be done. But we want to apologize for all the waiting" before being heckled by the little REPO robots.

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

But despite the video being dedicated to apologizing, Semiwork took the time to thank the player base. "As you all know, REPO took us by surprise," Sundstrom says, adding, "literally made Semiwork as a studio survive." He recounted that "One day we were crossing our fingers for rent money and the next we had millions of players storming our servers to play our game."

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

Sundstrom mentions that the explosive success was both a blessing and a curse as it required a lot of bug squashing, paperwork, and hacker-proofing the game. He explains this is partially why the first update has taken so long, as this work has "pulled our tiny team away from all the fun stuff, which is to create actual content for the game." However, he assures that future updates won't take quite as long as this one has, with the dev promising a mountain of new surprises.

REPO devs say "we've heard your feedback" and you can chill a bit: the Museum is "not finished," and the difficulty's going up with "Moon Phases" because "the game needs to keep up with you."

You may like
  • The Left Behind character aiming a gun at zombie Facing a 17% review score on Steam, survival game dev promises to add a way to, uh, save the game
  • An anime-style girl with cash in hand excitedly comes up to the window of a small electronics shop in key art for ReStory Chill shop sim about repairing off-brand PS1s makes $3 million just days after launch
  • Screenshot from Twisted Tower, showing a first-person view of a 'Real Boy Station' vending machine with a freaky clown doll by its side. Devs who spent 5 years making a BioShock-like horror shooter can't believe its Steam reviews
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Scott McCrae
Scott McCrae
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Scott has been freelancing for over four years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
The Left Behind character aiming a gun at zombie
Survival Games Facing a 17% review score on Steam, survival game dev promises to add a way to, uh, save the game
 
 
An anime-style girl with cash in hand excitedly comes up to the window of a small electronics shop in key art for ReStory
Simulation Games Chill shop sim about repairing off-brand PS1s makes $3 million just days after launch
 
 
Screenshot from Twisted Tower, showing a first-person view of a 'Real Boy Station' vending machine with a freaky clown doll by its side.
FPS Games Devs who spent 5 years making a BioShock-like horror shooter can't believe its Steam reviews
 
 
Arc Raiders player in skull helmet with blue lens eyes
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders lead says Steam player count discourse doesn't feel great, but Embark "accepted" it
 
 
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail screenshots of new player armor
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders hasn't had player counts like this in months: Steam flies past 125,000
 
 
Palworld trainer pointing
Survival Games Pocketpair lead thought if Palworld 1.0 hit 200k players, "that'd be party time" – it passed 900k
 
 
Latest in Horror Games
Hellraiser Revival well block puzzle
Horror Games How to solve the Hellraiser Revival well block puzzle
 
 
Hellraiser Revival Private Room retrieving embossed block from ear sculpture
Horror Games How to solve the Private Rooms door sex positions puzzle in Hellraiser Revival
 
 
Hellraiser Revival voyeur peephole puzzle
Horror Games How to solve the peephole door puzzle in Hellraiser Revival to reach the voyeur room
 
 
Hellraiser Revival door codes
Horror Games Hellraiser Revival codes for all the cupboard, lockers and keypads
 
 
Hellraiser Revival Leviathan Statuette without its tip
Horror Games How to solve the Leviathan statuette puzzle and find the tip in Hellraiser Revival
 
 
Key art from Cliver Barker's Hellraiser: Revival showing Pinhead holding the Genesis Configuration while lightning crackles from it against a background of dark smog, cropped for a header image
Horror Games 13 Hellraiser: Revival Easter Eggs and references that even hardcore horror fans may have missed
 
 
Latest in News
Carey Mulligan as Alexandra scowling in Wildwood
Fantasy Movies Early reactions for Wildwood draws Lord of the Rings comparisons as Laika's best film yet
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Rockstar has a whole team of GTA 6 writers for to pedestrian dialogue: "There are no shortcuts"
 
 
Screenshot from Marvel Tokon's post-launch trailer, showing Jane Foster's Thor.
Fighting Games Venom, Thor, X-Men's Jubilee and the "Phoenix version of Cyclops" coming to Marvel Tokon Year One
 
 
In a Violent Nature 2
Horror Movies POV horror In A Violent Nature carves out a release date for sequel
 
 
Godzilla being Godzilla
Sci-Fi Movies Godzilla Minus Zero trailer brings back the big guy in a tantalizing and terrifying trailer
 
 
Jordan A. Mun looks at herself in a mirror in just a vest in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet screenshot
Action Games Former Last of Us dev wonders if we'll look back at games like Intergalactic and "marvel at it"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Laika's 'crowning achievement' isn't far away
    1
    Early reactions for Wildwood draws Lord of the Rings comparisons as Laika's best film yet
  2. 2
    Rockstar has a whole team of GTA 6 writers dedicated to pedestrian dialogue: "There are no shortcuts when it comes to building a world like this"
  3. 3
    Marvel Tokon reveals Venom, Jane Foster's Thor, X-Men's Jubilee and the "Phoenix version of Cyclops" coming as Year One DLC heroes
  4. 4
    POV horror In A Violent Nature carves out a release date for sequel
  5. 5
    Godzilla Minus Zero trailer brings back the big guy in a tantalizing and terrifying trailer

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...