Sooooo..... I've changed the idea in a way but in a way to try and help developers, first to remove any sort of 'one man' (Because it was turning into me) way that one person holds all the money. I set out with this idea because I wanted it to be co-owned and that way secure, providing enough support for developers where applicable, but also to develop a level of trust. And whilst I of course wouldn't do anything negative towards anyone, I didn't like the idea of it being just me. Secondly, I wanted to be able to get games out there and to be available in more places than just trying to get traffic to a site.
I've already built a small demo of the app working and the database.
Here is the pitch
Ember Games is a mobile companion app built for story-driven creators, it is a unified hub where players can discover, launch, and follow visual novels and interactive stories from independent developers.
The app itself is safe for the App Store and Google Play, since it doesn’t host or distribute adult content directly. Instead, it acts as a catalogue and launcher, connecting to the developer’s web-hosted builds (Ren’Py HTML exports, Patreon, or SubscribeStar links).
Users browse games, read safe summaries, and jump directly to the full experience via your hosted version, ensuring compliance and accessibility.
Right now, visual novel developers face major friction:
Steam and Itch.io limit discoverability.
Patreon / SubscribeStar lack proper browsing or mobile experience.
iOS users are largely locked out from playing HTML games directly.
My idea, is that Ember Games solves all of this.
Play seamlessly on both mobile and PC with synced progress.
Enjoy cross-device continuity (pick up where they left off).
Access your game easily on iOS, without worrying about app restrictions.
Skip downloads — just tap and play.
Creator Tier Integration
Link your Patreon or SubscribeStar directly for exclusive access.
Offer mobile unlock codes, early builds, or behind-the-scenes content.
Add a new “Mobile Access Tier” for Ember Games users.
Sponsored Listings & Featured Spots
Pay to promote your titles inside the app to hopefully, thousands of engaged fans.
Affiliate Traffic
Track clicks to your own store pages (Steam, Itch.io, etc.).
Gain insights into player behaviour and conversion.
Optional Ember Premium
Ad-free browsing and cosmetic perks for players through in-app purchases.
Developer Benefits
No platform censorship risk
You keep full control over your hosting and monetization
Firebase-powered backend for authentication, analytics, and ratings
Built-in Safe Mode toggle for NSFW filtering
Cross-device support — play on PC, Android, or iOS instantly
Instant updates without resubmitting to stores
Cross-platform with React Native, ready for both iOS and Android
App Store Compliance
Ember Games contains no NSFW or adult media.
It functions as a directory and launcher, only showing safe metadata.
External NSFW content is accessed via verified age check and external links — fully compliant with Google and Apple policies.
This approach mirrors how Reddit, Twitter, and OnlyFans apps are approved while still connecting users to adult creators and content externally.