Automata Games
200 posts
@AutomataGames1
Indie game dev studio crafting our debut title. Building in public and sharing the journey. Your feedback shapes our code!
Topic 5: Replies vs Likes Old X felt simple: More likes = more impressions. If a post got a lot of likes fast, it usually traveled further. But new X doesn’t feel like that anymore. Likes don’t seem to help reach as much now. Replies seem much more important. But not every reply has the same value. In the old system, the number of replies mattered more. Even simple replies like: “Thanks!” or🔥or “Nice!” could help the post look active. But now, meaningful replies seem to matter more. Real questions. Useful answers. Small discussions. Even natural jokes between real people. These feel stronger than empty engagement. Likes show support. Replies create reach. If someone replies early, reply back. Not as a trick. Just keep the conversation alive.
Topic 4: Hashtags My experience with hashtags has completely changed. As an indie game curator, I no longer believe hashtags automatically boost impressions. In 2026, they often do the opposite - they can actively reduce reach. Especially when you mix languages in the same post. English text + Japanese hashtags + random gaming tags... This confuses the algorithm about who the post is actually for. X’s algorithm no longer relies on hashtags for discovery. It now uses advanced semantic understanding, powered by Grok-level NLP, to read and categorize content directly. Hashtags have become almost irrelevant for reach. That’s why I stopped treating them as “reach boosters.” I now see hashtags purely as audience targeting tools. If you want to reach Japanese indie game accounts, write the entire post in Japanese and use the right local hashtags: # インディーゲーム # ゲーム開発 # 個人開発 Even if total impressions are lower, the post lands with the exact right people. Repeating the same hashtags over and over also traps you in an echo chamber - the algorithm keeps showing your content to the exact same small circle. So here’s my current rule: Use hashtags only when they perfectly match your audience and goal. Asking indie developers a question? -> #IndieDev or #gamedev makes sense. Introducing a game to players? -> Skip dev-focused tags. Focus on player-first language first. Hashtags are not magic anymore. They’re just labels. Use them carefully - or don’t use them at all. Elon was right: the system doesn’t need them anymore.
Over 1700 wishlist - #SteamNextFest going nice for #StillRooms Will we make it to 2000 this week? Sure hope so ^^ Thank you all! #indiegame #gamedev @IndieCurator @IndieBandits @SPGMedia101 @IGN @kadukowo @maxx__creates
