Indie game developer Black Tabby Games has made a surprising suggestion for those who want to play the viral horror game Slay the Princess. The game has gotten a lot of attention thanks to its gameplay videos on YouTube, and the developers are not happy about it.

Black Tabby Games encourages piracy of Slay the Princess

Black Tabby Games, the developer of Slay the Princess, has advised players to pirate the game before buying it. This decision comes after the game was played and popularized by YouTubers.

For folks tuning in to the Markiplier Slay the Princess series — if you haven't played on your own yet, the best viewing experience will be if you watch it after playing. The game is *wildly* reactive to your choices, to the level of every playthrough being personalized.

— Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut Era (@blacktabbygames) June 22, 2024

Black Tabby argued that players should experience the game for themselves and that every gameplay is personal, and that the best experience cannot be watched on YouTube without playing the game.

The situation became even more interesting when Black Tabby offered players the option to pirate the game, even though it was on sale on Steam. The developers posted on social media platform X: “If you can’t afford to buy the game right now, pirate it. No problem and if you like the game, you can buy it in the future,” the developers posted on social media platform X.

This unusual strategy by Black Tabby Games was well received by some gamers. One user stated that he could not buy the game because he was unemployed, but with this suggestion from the developers, he would pirate the game and buy the game in the future when he earns money. Black Tabby wrote to this user, “Enjoy the game! If you buy the game in the future, Steam will automatically recognize the progress saved from the pirated copy.”

Slay the Princess was released in October 2023, and the game’s promotional text simply reads “You are here to kill the princess. Don’t believe their lies”. The game is currently available for purchase on Steam with a 20% discount and a free demo is also available. The console version is expected in the fall of 2024.

The developer later decided to delete these posts. What do you think about this strategy? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.