Maker Lab was developed in 12 days using a Raspberry Pi

Maker Lab was built with Raspberry Pi and open source tools. Available on the App Store, the game is free.

Maker Lab was built with Raspberry Pi and open source tools, offering a simulation experience with machine-operation and order-management challenges. The game has 10 levels and is compatible with Raspberry Pi, using local models such as Ollama or llama.cpp. Available worldwide on the App Store, Maker Lab is free and may be an alternative for developers looking to speed up the game-creation process with open source resources.

Availability in Brazil has not yet been confirmed, but the game is already available to users worldwide. Meanwhile, the games market is seeing price increases, with GTA 6 cited as a potential benchmark. The game's standard edition costs US$ 89.56 (converted from EUR 80) and the Ultimate edition, US$ 112 (converted from EUR 100).

Independent games, such as 'Conduite Accompagnée: Ma sœur', face financial and technological challenges to stay available. Studio Easy Fox, which developed the game's demo, took out a loan to keep the service online. In addition, EA Sports is seeking workers to develop a free AAA game with a service model. EA Sports FC Mobile, available for Android and iOS since 2016, receives free annual updates.

App Store availability and the free price make the game accessible, but the reliance on Raspberry Pi may limit access for those who don't have the hardware. The combination of open source tools and a short development time may be a model for independent games, especially given the rising costs of AAA games. The simplicity of the model may be an attractive factor.

Independent game challenges traditional models

Maker Lab arrives at a time when the games market faces growing pressures. The approach based on open source tools and Raspberry Pi contrasts with the traditional development model, which requires high costs. Creating the game in such a short time also draws attention, since the industry has become increasingly slow and expensive. Maker Lab may be a sign that the democratization of game creation is underway.

The traditional development experience is replaced by an accelerated model. Independent developers create games without major resources. This opens space for new studios looking for alternatives to the AAA model. Game prices rise with every release. Raspberry Pi compatibility shows how local computing can replace remote servers. The market has rising costs and intense competition.

With information from raspberrypi.com, jeuxvideo.com and vandal.elespanol.com.

Prices converted to US dollars from the original currency at the reference rate of 2026-10-14 (European Central Bank).