Node Factory Dev Changes Name Due to AI Backlash

An indie developer has shared a lesson learned from their experience with marketing their game, 'Idle AI Factory', on social media. The game, an incremental/tycoon game about building and optimizing node-based automation networks, features the term 'AI' in its title, but not in the way players expected. The dev received instant hostility, downvotes, and unpleasant interactions, which distracted from the actual gameplay.

The developer decided to rebrand the game to 'Node Factory' to avoid alienating potential players. However, making a full name change on Steam right before Next Fest proved to be a challenge. Steam requires manual approval time, and the search algorithms take days to adapt, which could break the game's visibility during the festival.

To compromise, the dev is doing a hybrid rollout: updating store page graphics, description, and logo to 'Node Factory', while keeping the official text title on Steam as 'Idle AI Factory' for a couple of weeks. This ensures search results and wishlists don't break during the festival.

The developer is seeking advice and sharing their experience to help other devs who may face similar issues with game naming or unexpected stigma.