Welcome home. This is Audio EXP, the weekly podcast from Geek Native. I am your host, Girdy, and today is the 27th of June, 2026. This week, we are evaluating a major regulatory decision in the UK that signals a warning to virtual tabletops, examining a tactical retreat by fan creators from traditional digital storefronts, and looking at the ongoing fallout in the 5e marketplace for independent creators.
[The following is a transcript of Audio EXP: #339]
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We kick off this week with our premier community feature. Our June spotlight conversation is officially live, and you can read the full chat with Dice Average RPG on the site right now. Jack from the studio didn’t pull any punches when discussing the current state of the independent market, noting that the third-party ecosystem for 5e has been struggling since the OGL dispute in late 2022 and early 2023. He highlighted that many long-term creators on platforms like the DMsGuild experienced profit drops of up to 90% that never recovered, while the storefront itself has become incredibly difficult to navigate due to an influx of low-effort AI material. He also pointed out how prohibitively expensive and time-consuming it has become to produce physical print options under current layout-artist restrictions.
I want to extend a huge thank you to all our patrons who make these deep dives possible. Voting for the July spotlight is currently underway, and you can cast your ballot over on the Patreon voting page. The five independent candidates looking for your support next month are:
Our top story this week focuses on consumer protection and a significant ruling by the UK Advertising Standards Authority. The regulator has penalised high-street retailer Argos and technology giant Microsoft for failing to explicitly disclose in-app purchases and loot boxes in their promotional material. This enforcement follows the end of a formal grace period on the 26th of May, and it provides significant food for thought for companies like Hasbro.
By targeting subscription models, such as promoting base access to games without clearly warning consumers about additional costs for extra content, the ruling clarifies that hidden costs must be stated prominently up front. This has clear implications for the virtual tabletop market, where platforms frequently use subscription access or base apps while selling necessary rulebooks and adventures separately.
In digital spaces, we are tracking a distinct clash between legal teams and community creators. The digital Warhammer community has bypassed the Steam storefront following an intellectual property sweep by Games Workshop. Following the global launch of Warhammer 40k 11th edition, high-profile Tabletop Simulator mods were cleared from the Steam Workshop. Rather than shutting down, however, the fan community has simply split from Steam, moving their files to decentralised independent hosting to keep the games running. It underscores a growing trend of enthusiasts actively building external workarounds when corporate legal actions push them out of mainstream spaces.
This landscape shift directly ties into the ongoing battle for the digital tabletop ecosystem. BackerKit and DriveThruRPG have linked their systems using a unified API for instant digital reward delivery. This technical integration allows crowdfunding backers to receive their digital files directly into their DriveThruRPG accounts, removing the hassle of spreadsheet tracking or manual download codes. Roll20, which owns DriveThruRPG, has been incredibly savvy here; by streamlining this fulfilment pipeline, they are tightening their grip on the indie ecosystem and making it much harder for alternative marketplaces to compete. In the past, Roll20 has bought to control the ecosystem; here, they’re doing it with friends.
Turning to our international showcase, independent game recognition is finding incredible momentum overseas. The fifth annual KiwiRPG online convention has officially locked in its return dates, establishing a week-long digital showcase for New Zealand’s tabletop community. Scheduled to run from the 4th to the 11th of July, the virtual gathering is intentionally timed to align with Matariki, the Māori New Year. This anchoring is reflected in the official programming, which opens and closes with a traditional streaming ceremony and karakia prayer. The convention features an expansive array of livestreamed actual plays and industry panel debates. High-profile figures like Cortex Prime creator Cam Banks and Chaosium artist Paul Tobin will join local independent voices. A major core focus this year is a dedicated Māori creators panel highlighting indigenous design perspectives, alongside diverse system demonstrations that range from supernatural investigative comedies to tense alpine survival horror. To complement the broadcasts, creators across the KiwiRPG network are launching collaborative discount bundles across itch, DriveThruRPG, and RPG Trader.
At the same time, we saw an independent milestone at the 49th annual Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio. The lighthearted, whimsical fantasy sandbox Land of Eem secured a prestigious Origins Award win for Roleplaying Game of the Year. Created by Ben Costa and James Parks and published by Exalted Funeral, the title topped a highly competitive field of major corporate releases, including Critical Role’s Daggerheart and the Cosmere roleplaying game. Built on a custom d12 mechanics system, the game translates the hand-drawn aesthetic of the creators’ original graphic novels into a cooperative, hopeful world that players describe as a tonal blend of The Lord of the Rings and The Muppets. Character progression completely bypasses traditional combat-driven experience points, instead rewarding map exploration, narrative development, and character roleplaying. The system features an extensive crafting index with over 200 components, giving independent tabletop groups a highly tactile sandbox experience.
In comic distribution news, alternative graphic fiction is expanding its direct-market reach through a key corporate realignment. Hero Tomorrow Comics has officially partnered with Asylum Press in a brand-new imprint and distribution deal. Under this new operational umbrella, writer Ted Sikora’s independent superhero universe returns directly to retail solicitations this August. The premier launch under the new arrangement is a double-sized issue titled Punchline and the Vaude-Villains vs Violante #1. The narrative follows a super-powered clown and a fallen heavyweight boxer as they navigate a theatrical villain syndicate in Cleveland, blending a 1990s musical aesthetic with monster-clown action. The partnership allows Hero Tomorrow to bypass traditional small-press printing hurdles by piggybacking on Asylum’s established distribution networks, providing a robust entry point for retail comic shops.
Finally, we close out the week with three excellent options to expand your game library through the Bundle of Holding and Humble platforms. Classic fantasy players can explore brave new frontiers with the Chivalry & Sorcery New Lands bundle, which delivers sweeping historical supplements for campaign building. If you prefer dark, old-school sword and sorcery, you can grab over 960 dollars worth of grim material in the Professor DM’s Dungeon Crawl Classics Essentials bundle, which packs foundational sourcebooks and modules into a substantial discount tier. Alternatively, fans of dark urban investigations and old-world grit can explore Altdorf and beyond with the comprehensive Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay digital bundle, securing an extensive collection of core resources for the iconic setting.
That is it for this week. Thanks for listening to Audio EXP. For all the links, voting blocks, and full stories, head over to Geek Native. Until next week, stay geeky.
