A request to include posts from feed on the home page, as a block like Latest Featured Games, with a link to view more posts, including a sample of the post with it, so it’s clear what kind of content it is.

Reasoning

I like the current layout of the homepage, but there is no place for the Feed. I’ve seen others mention on other platforms about how for all their subscribers, new posts they make don’t reach very far. I suspect that because the Feed currently needs to be navigated to, it is forgotten. Content may not be surfaced because it is effectively hidden. This isn’t ideal for users/customers and developers. Placing some of the Feed more prominently, on the front page would be a major improvement.

As an end user, I currently have 2 pinned tabs for itch.io. One of these tabs is just for the Feed. This is because I do want to read these updates, but I also forget to explicitly check. Having highlights from the Feed would make it easier for users to discover what’s new from the developers I follow, congratulate them on their successes, and learn about updates to their existing games.

For other developers, posting relevant content to the Feed feels disheartening when the implication is that not many will read it. Developers with thousands of followers who receive double digit views are discouraged when it feels like posting into the void. This raises questions: Does no one like their game/content? Is it a problem with Itch.io? Is it a problem with them? What actions should be taken to point out additional content may be in the itch.io feed? Should they focus elsewhere.

As a developer myself, I’m unaffected by this: I don’t have that many subscribers (100?), and am in a happy place of visibility where I started on other platforms. For new developers starting on itch.io, and perhaps just starting out, seeing others with larger followings have low visibility may discourage them also. But posting to the feed is a great feature. It is easy to format your post, easy to post instructional material and updates that look good and match the theme of your game with no additional effort. It begs to be used, but if no one sees the post, using it becomes just spent time.

Assuming no other solutions for this are being worked on, the request is:

• posts from feed are placed more prominently, in it’s own block like Latest Featured Games, with a link to view more posts.

• posts include a sample of the written content with the title and thumbnail, so it’s clear what kind of content is being presented.

In addition to surfacing content users have intentionally subscribed to, this would better advertise the existence of the Feed, and the kind of content one can expect from it.