How to claim and download Patreon build on Itch.io (Patreon)

NOTE: There is currently an issue with Patreon API where it doesn't report actual converted value of a pledge in currencies other than USD $; If you use Pound £ or Euro € and are unable to claim a build, please first confirm that you have pledged to Silver Cohort or above, and then send a message to me that you can't claim (just write "Can't claim" or something else like that, I'll just check your pledge and send you a link ^^)

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How to make an account on Itch.io?

Note: The download link on Patreon build release should take you through the steps too, but if not, here’s a guide on how to do it through the www.itch.io website!

The website should look approximately like this (with “seasonal” things being different of course):

Click on Register to get started!

Fill in your information as follows:

1 - Your Username you want to use. It doesn’t have to be the same as your Patreon name, the Itch.io client and Patreon will connect together when you claim a game.

2 - A secure password that you don’t use on any other sites (basic security method).

3 - Your email account.

4 - Toggle these options on: You’re only interested in playing games, and you accept the terms (after reading, of course *cough*).

5 - Create account!

And then you’re presented with this on top of the main page:

Welcome to Itch.io!

After a lil while, you get email to verify your account:

Click to verify your email address and...

You’re done! Congratulations! <3

Now you can download a build!

How to Download a Patreon build?

First you have to go to a Patreon Build release post (here on Patreon!), then click on the link normally.

The link takes you to Itch.io page:

From here you just click the “Connect with Patreon” button.

Then it will load the Patreon connection tool (if you’ve linked your Discord, it’s identical basically):

Click “Allow” so that Itch.io can fetch your Patreon pledge and profile info to unlock the build for you.

This leads you directly to download page for the build:

1 - Check this line (and file name) to confirm which operating system/PC you use to download the right version (believe it or not the last one is actually a Linux penguin and not a yeti)

2 - Click the download button matching the version you want.

The zipped game file should now download normally!

NOTE: If you use ItchIo app ( https://itch.io/app ) it should apply patches automatically without you having to download the whole zip again.

Where can I find builds I’ve claimed in the past?

If you go to the Itch.io main page when logged in, you can access the library through the drop menu on top right corner.

Here’s how it looks more or less:

1 - Click on this arrow to open the menu below.

2 - Click on “My Library” to access builds you’ve claimed (well, anything you have on your account really!)

3 - Click Download to go to the download page!

What is the change?

All Hunt and Snare Patreon builds will be downloaded through Itch.io in future. Itch.io is a game sharing website (has a lot of free games, paid games, and Patreon claimable games on it -  many are experimental and small indie games though, so it’s not like Steam in that regard). They offer fast download speeds and permanent ownership of all downloads claimed via it.

What it means for you:

• You can keep and re-download any build you’ve claimed via Patreon subscription. NOTE: You still need an active subscription when new builds come out, you just don’t need a subscription to download builds you’ve downloaded before.
• If we release patches to any Patreon builds (happened a few times), you don’t have to re-download the whole game.
• Itch.io offers infinitely better download speeds than the unstable Mediafire we’ve used to host builds with.

What it requires from you:

• You need an Itch.io account to access Patreon downloads.
• You still need an active subscription to CLAIM (but not download) builds.

Why are we (devs) switching to Itch.io for Patreon builds?

Itch.io offers us uploading tools that allow us to upload builds more efficiently (...without Mediafire cutting the connection between uploads or just failing to upload for fun. Yes, we had as much fun using Mediafire as you did xD), and it basically allows us to share builds for free (Mediafire, unlike Itch.io, had transfer limits and you had to pay more to allow more download bandwidth per month).

Itch.io also requires an account to claim and links to Patreon account and handles ownership of builds, so it means technically only people who have pledged on Patreon can download a build. For most people it doesn’t really mean much, but over months a lot of links get shared for buddies (that’s fine, it doesn’t hurt us, but sadly collateral damage when switching to Itch.io, sorry about that) and various sites (not so fine) resulting in bandwidth usage that is 3-5x the Patreon download needs.

This literally means that we’re paying for piracy (not fighting against that, it’s not possible, and IMO I honestly think Itch.io is a better deal for patrons because of the improved download speeds and the ability to keep old builds). It’s not even the cool piracy, but rather the lazy piracy where they don’t even bother hosting builds themselves and instead leech it to have us pay the bill (the not cool kind of piracy) :P

~

With luv,
Ruffleneck