Such is the nature of the digital games business that the very existence of the publisher – at least in its traditional form – is constantly called into question.

Of most note has been the Who Needs Chillingo? cooperative - recently rebranded Selfpubd, but retaining the aim of giving indie studios a route to market that doesn't involve bowing down to a major publisher.

A fresh consortium formed by UK studios Finblade, Niffler and Lightning Fish, amongst others, appears to have much the same aims, but will also benefit from the backing of the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, better known as NESTA.

Small studios, big backing

Joined by other UK outfits Proper Games, Onteca and Supersonic, Develop reports all six parties have put a share of their own money into the venture, which is designed to form a publishing model that benefits indie studios.

A snap taken by ScottishGames.net suggests Andy Payne, acting chairman of the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), is also a "stakeholder" in the group, while it's also believed games industry trade association TIGA has offered some form of support.

Putting it succinctly, the consortium – dubbed AppyNation – will look to offer studios a more favourable share of revenue, without sacrificing its ability to push the title in question.

Though the outfit is yet to go public, a soft launch is expected over the course of the next few months, at which point details of AppyNation's first projects will likely also hit the web.

[source: Develop]