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

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