IndieGameBusiness®

From YouTube Tutorials to Launching a Studio | Joe Dietsch, Wolf Haus Games

IndieGameBusiness®

Show Notes

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Joe Dietsch, CEO, Creative Director, and Co-Founder of Wolf Haus Games. Joe shares his unconventional path into game development, starting as an outsider with no formal game development background and learning Unreal Engine through YouTube before eventually founding his own studio.

We discuss the journey of building Wolf Haus Games around an original, untested IP and the creation of JOIN US, a narrative-driven survival game inspired by real-life events, films, and classic games. Joe explains the unique challenges of blending cinematic storytelling with survival gameplay, tackling difficult subject matter around cults, and creating a game that encourages players to think while they play.

The conversation also explores the realities of launching a game across multiple platforms with a small team, balancing creative ambition with production constraints, and the lessons learned while building a studio from the ground up.

If you're an indie developer wondering how to turn passion into a studio, or how to bring a bold original vision to life without a AAA budget, this episode is full of practical advice and firsthand experience.

Follow Joe Dietsch and Wolf Haus Games: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joedietsch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfhausgames/

#IndieGameBusiness #WolfHausGames #JOINUS #IndieDev #GameDevelopment

More from IndieGameBusiness®

Oct 16, 2026

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Benjamin Carcich, Founder of Valarin, Inc., to challenge the game industry’s obsession with process and productivity.Your team can have meetings, tickets, sprints, reports, and a perfectly organized production pipeline, but does all of that activity actually create value?Benjamin breaks down the difference between producing “stuff” and producing value, how studios accidentally incentivize the wrong behaviors, and why processes that were designed to help teams can eventually become obstacles themselves.We’ll explore why teams continue following processes without understanding why they exist, how traditional training can reinforce dysfunctional production habits, and the question leaders should be asking about every process inside their studio.We’ll also dive into leadership in game development and how studio leaders can create environments focused on outcomes rather than simply keeping everyone busy.If your team constantly feels busy but your game never seems to move forward fast enough, this conversation may change how you think about productivity.Follow Benjamin Carcich:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/#IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #GameProduction #IndieDev #StudioLeadership

Oct 9, 2026

Rob Carroll is back on IndieGameBusiness, but this time the conversation is very different.When Rob joined us previously, Roll Craft was building the studio and preparing for what came next. Now they’ve actually gone through the fundraising process, and Rob is coming back to talk about what really happened.VCs. Angel investors. Kickstarter. WeFunder. Community funding. They all offer different paths to getting your game funded, but choosing how to raise the money is only the beginning.What happens once your raise actually goes live?Rob joins us to talk about the realities of fundraising, from preparing your company and choosing the right funding approach to the constant work required once the campaign starts. Updates, emails, AMAs, webinars, community engagement, and keeping momentum alive all become part of the job.We’ll also get into what surprised him, what worked, what didn’t, the negatives developers should be prepared for, and the things he wishes more studio founders understood before starting a raise.If you’re thinking about raising money for your game or studio, this is a chance to hear from someone who just went through it.Follow Rob Carroll and Roll Craft:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcarroll23/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rollcraft.gamesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollcraft_adventure/#IndieGameBusiness #GameFunding #IndieDev #GameBusiness #RollCraft

Oct 7, 2026

Join Raven Law for “Learning by Landmines: Pitfalls & Strategies for Publishing”

Oct 6, 2026

Join Tara Voelker for “Make Accessibility a Selling Point: Storefronts, Tags, and Discovery”

Oct 5, 2026

Join Michael Brown for “Nobody Owes Your Game Attention – Why Good Games Still Fail” A great game isn’t enough if no one knows it exists. Michael explores why quality alone doesn’t guarantee success, covering market fit, positioning, launch timing, and store page conversion. Learn why building demand before release is essential and how thoughtful planning can give your game a better chance of standing out in a crowded marketplace.Live September 30th, 12pm - 1pm Eastern | YouTube - Twitch - LinkedIn#FYP #VirtualConference #IndieGameDev #IndieGames #GamesIndustry

See all episodes →