James Simpson

Founder of @GoldFireStudios. Director, writer & developer of indie games (latest Arctic Awakening). Author of howler.js. DMs open.

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

We’re excited to reveal our first story trailer for @ArcticAwakening, a sci-fi narrative adventure set in the Alaskan wilderness!

❤️RTs/likes appreciated!

👉Wishlist: https://t.co/hx3j45QoHx

#FutureGamesShow #IndieGame #MadeWithUnity

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

Only 3 days left to vote for Arctic Awakening's OST in the World Soundtrack Awards (@WSAwards)! We really appreciate all of your help in the public vote getting Joff's amazing soundtrack the recognition it deserves🙏

Vote: https://t.co/1rbYWLjmMm

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

Arctic Awakening was our 5th game as a studio, and we're not stopping there. Follow along for updates from our icy adventure and beyond. More to come soon! 👀

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

They grow up so fast🤯

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

GoldFire Studios turns 18 today! What started as a student side project has grown into a full-fledged studio with an incredible team and an amazing community. Thank you for all the support over the years, and we look forward to sharing more with you for years to come! ❤️

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

My very own Lil Finder Guy getting printed just in time for WWDC😍

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

👋 Hey #indiegame fans, today's #PitchYaGame!

Set off on a narrative adventure through the Alaskan wilderness, where a court-mandated therapy bot is your only companion in the hunt for your missing co-pilot.

Will you uncover the mysteries in time?

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

🌊 The #WorldOceanDay Steam sale is LIVE! Grab Arctic Awakening for 20% off and many other great deals while helping @whalesorg protect marine life with a portion of each sale going to their efforts!

👉 https://t.co/T4IxxK2inI

@GamesForWaves #WODFEST

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

Dear Esther in particular opened my eyes to a completely different type of gaming experience all those years ago, so this was a really cool full circle moment.

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

Shoutout to our friends at @ChineseRoom for being an inspiration and for recommending Arctic Awakening in their latest newsletter! 🙏

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

We're honored to be recognized by @debugmagazine's Indie Game Awards in the following categories!!

🎧 BEST SOUND DESIGN
🎙️ BEST VOICE ACTING

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

It's time for #TeaseYaGame! ❄️

Arctic Awakening released a few months ago, but we're still updating & working on photo mode (seen below)!

👁️first-person narrative adventure
🤖only a therapy bot for company
❓not everything is as it seems...

🕹️ https://t.co/4anBmMQEc7

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

This isn't AI, this is Arctic Awakening.

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

Glad to see Unity effectively phasing out HDRP in favor of URP. The simplicity of the original built-in was what made Unity such a great choice for so many devs. Re-aligning around URP will be a huge boost for engine dev, asset devs, and game devs alike. https://t.co/vzeOfWFOpN

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

Has it really been 10 years?? Firewatch really broadened perspectives on what storytelling in indie games could be. It's certainly one of the many influences on our own work. 🙏

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

I want to go camping in my own game.

#gamedev #indiegame

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

Meet the voices behind the characters of Arctic Awakening in this behind-the-scenes look, including the talented @KaggyFilms, @davebmitchell, @CiaCourtVO, and @MaraJunot!

https://t.co/sndBqd8ede

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

We'd love to make an Alfie plushie happen if there's enough interest! We explored this with @Makeship, but before we look for other options, who has a warm home for our little therapy bot?

❤️ = yes
💬 = I would buy this

(mockup not final)

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

@ArcticAwakening @Makeship 👋

[Lee Martin @leemartin]

@Netlify @nuxt_js @vuejs @playdate @notboring @threejs The @tailwindcss powered buttons are clicky as hell and I'm using @goldfirestudios Howler.js to add some sound effects. Sound on for ASMR content. 🔊 Let me know if you want my .retro-button classes.

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

@realjamalsteele Best email for that is [email protected].

[James Simpson @GoldFireJames]

I never managed to see this message once in 2025. Feels good to start off 2026 with inbox zero🙌

[GoldFire Studios (Arctic Awakening - OUT NOW) @GoldFireStudios]

That time I found myself demoing an early Arctic Awakening build in an underground bar in Tokyo to Nintendo, PlayStation, Pokemon, and indie devs. Not much english, but we still vibed over a shared love of games. Still one of my favorite moments from this whole journey!