Ayla Derrick is a game designer, founder, and community builder whose work focuses on creating opportunities and support systems for independent game developers.
Her relationship with community building began long before she entered the games industry professionally. Throughout her life, Ayla has naturally created communities around the hobbies, games, and interests she cared about—from online games and guilds to social groups, hobby communities, and Discord servers. She developed a particular passion for bringing people together, organizing shared experiences, and creating spaces where people could learn from one another.
In 2024, that instinct became the foundation for Cave Bear.
During a difficult period for the games industry, Ayla found herself navigating the challenge of building a future as a junior while publishers and traditional opportunities remained largely inaccessible. Rather than continuing to pursue those opportunities alone, she began connecting with other developers experiencing similar challenges.
What began as Cave Bear Games, a game development studio and a small community of developers, quickly evolved into something much larger.
As the community grew, Ayla recognized that many independent developers were facing the same problems: limited access to resources, difficulty finding collaborators and opportunities, and an industry culture that often encouraged studios to compete rather than support one another.
Cave Bear Collective was built around a different idea.
Today, Ayla serves as the founder and president of Cave Bear Collective, a nonprofit supporting unfunded and self-funded indie game development studios. Through community programs, education, partnerships, resources, events, and opportunities, the Collective connects developers and studios with one another and helps create infrastructure for developers who may not otherwise have access to traditional industry support.
Ayla's approach to leadership is rooted in three values: communication, education, and passion. Rather than positioning herself as an expert with all the answers, she focuses on connecting people with one another, building systems that make information more accessible, and creating environments where emerging developers can learn and grow alongside experienced professionals.
Alongside her community work, Ayla is also an active game designer. She founded Cave Bear Games and released Plantasia, a cozy idle game designed to exist alongside everyday computer use. Her creative work reflects her interest in approachable design, cozy experiences, alternative ways of interacting with games, and creating spaces that feel welcoming to audiences who may not see themselves represented in traditional gaming experiences.
Ayla currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where she is continuing to build connections within the local games industry while leading an international community of independent developers.