Dev Behind Highly Regarded PC Game Explains Why He Raised The Price: "Go Pirate It, I Don't Care"

David Szymanski, the developer behind the critically acclaimed PC games Dusk and Iron Lung, has raised the price of his newest game and says it's because he wants to make more money.

Szymanski recently raised the price of Iron Lung from $6 to $8, and he responded to people on social media who were apparently trying to "gotcha" him. "Once again, Iron Lung's price went up because the game is worth $8 so I want to charge $8, because I want to earn more money. If you don't agree with this price, I don't want your money. Go pirate it or something idc," he said.

He went on to say he raised the price due to "added value/content." The price change was announced in October and went into effect in November.

Szymanski said he hears the refrain, "He's only doing this for the money," and he agrees with that sentiment.

"Yes, no f**king shit, I make games for a living," he said. "If I didn't want to earn money from them I wouldn't charge money for them. I like the business model of 'I want money so I make something that I think is worth money, and you pay me that money and you get the thing, and we're all happy' That's it. There's nothing complicated or hidden here."

"If you don't think the things I make are worth the money I charge, that's completely ok," he added. "Don't buy them, or wait for a deep sale, or go the sneaky route and get them for free or whatever, and please tell me that so I can adjust the prices for whatever I release next."

Iron Lung's sales volume decreased after the price change, Szymanski said. He said he always knew it would be a "gamble" to raise the price, hoping it would prove to be the right move in the long run. Szymanski said he expects Iron Lung game sales to continue to drop.

Another element at play here is that Szymanski said he hopes the publicity from the upcoming Iron Lung movie would "make up for" negative sales trends due to the price increase.

The film is written, directed, and produced by Mark Fischback AKA Markiplier, who's also starring in it. The movie is coming to theaters but a release date has not yet been announced.