Ghost Guild is a community of learning and practice for anyone, anywhere interested in a video game industry-wide shift to worker-owned studio models.
We reject hierarchy wherever it shows up. Ghost Guild is tier-less, but peer-full.
Our Story
Ghost Guild is the membership program of Baby Ghosts, a Canadian nonprofit that provides resources and support for worker-owned game studios.
For three years, Baby Ghosts has run the Peer Accelerator - an intensive program pairing early-stage studios with mentorship, peer learning, and grants. Twenty-five studios have graduated. The model works! Peer learning builds stronger foundations than top-down advice ever could.
But not everyone can commit to a six-month cohort. Some folks are still exploring. Others are already running established cooperatives and want to give back. Many are scattered across the world and just need to know they're not alone in wanting to build something different.
Ghost Guild is how we open the doors wider.
As we build our knowledge commons, more folks can benefit from collectively compiled wisdom and find community - whether or not they ever apply to the Peer Accelerator. The intensive program continues. Ghost Guild expands access to everything around it.
The Circles
We've loosely named some circles you can join. This is not to rank you, but to connect you with folks at a similar stage and with resources that fit where you are right now.
No circle is superior. There's no shame in sticking with one for a while, or moving between them to find the best fit.
The Community Circle is for individuals exploring cooperative principles. Whether you're working in the industry or in academia, you'll get access to the knowledge commons, workshops, resources, guides, community Slack and peer support, and social events and networking.
The Founder Circle is for those actively building a worker-owned studio. You'll have access to everything within the platform, just like any other member, but you might be particularly interested in peer matching with studios at similar stages and Peer Accelerator alumni, and templates for governance, financial modelling, and decision-making.
The Practitioner Circle is for Peer Accelerator alumni and experienced cooperative studio leaders. You'll hopefully find yourself providing paid support to other members, as well as engaging in collaborative research opportunities with academic partners, connecting to other coops for business development, and helping build a platform for changing industry practices.
How Contribution Works
Choosing your financial contribution is also not about paying for access. Everything is available to every member, no matter their circle or contribution level.
Rather, it's about finding a dues level that's meaningful to you without being a burden.
The knowledge commons is open to all Ghosties. Your contribution sustains a community you believe in.
If dues are a barrier, that's okay. Members who are able to contribute more can direct additional funds to the Solidarity Fund, which covers dues for those who need support.
Community
When you join Ghost Guild, you join a community of Ghosties - folks at every stage of the journey, learning from each other.
Our Slack community is built with care. New members are welcomed thoughtfully, channels are structured to help you find your people, and we grow at a pace that protects what makes this space special.
This is a cascading mentorship structure where everyone is both learning and teaching. Practitioners mentor Founders. Founders mentor Community members. And Community members bring fresh perspectives that keep everyone honest.
Welcome, Ghostie! 👻