Interview with Julia Miernik, Digital Marketing Director Dfiance

Recently, I spoke with Julia Miernik, Digital Marketing Director of Dfiance. In this exclusive interview, she shares the vision behind the game, the creative process of card and character design, the challenges during development, and how the community plays a central role in the success of this indie project.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your studio? Who is behind Dfiance?

We’re an independent studio passionate about creating unique gaming experiences. Our team is small but driven, with backgrounds in marketing, design, and game development. We do not have one place where we make our game, we work worldwide, few people in Europe, some in USA, some in Asia :).
Dfiance is the result of a shared vision to build a competitive yet accessible strategy game for everyone.

What inspired you to create Dfiance, and why did you choose this name?

The idea came from our love for strategy card games and competitive PvP. We wanted to capture the thrill of commanding armies on a battlefield but in a streamlined, free-to-play format. Generally Dfiance references Defiance, with a slang talk with one of the characters in the lore.

In what ways does Dfiance stand out from other card and strategy games?

Unlike many games in the genre, Dfiance is completely free-to-play and doesn’t rely on pay-to-win mechanics. Every player has the same chance to compete, and success comes from skill, tactics, and smart decision-making — not from how much you spend.

How important was it for you to build a fair-play system without pay-to-win?

It was absolutely crucial. We believe that fairness is the core of competitive gaming. By removing pay-to-win elements, we created a more level playing field that rewards players for their strategies and creativity, not their wallets.

Can you walk us through the creative process of designing cards and animations?

1. Concept – In this stage, we’re looking to add a card that fits within the faction. Since we’ve now completed the base of all factions, this step is a bit different. But let’s say we go back in time and add a new card. I would first discuss this with Pedro, the game designer. It’s important that before we add a card, we know roughly what its technical impact will be. For example: are we going to add a ranged or a melee unit? With which ability? And what power level will this card have?
2. Art concept – Here I discuss the concept with one of our artists. We talk about the general look, the weapon design, and possible poses and compositions, all based on the information provided by the game designer.
3. Sketching – At this point, the artist creates 3 or 4 sketches to explore composition and pose. I pick one, and together we work out a color palette.
4. Rendering – Once color and composition are selected, the artist renders the artwork to the level of detail we need.
5. Feedback – We hold a feedback round to identify things we might need to add, remove, or emphasize further.
6. Presentation – We present the finished card to the rest of the team and enjoy the compliments for the artist.

What challenges did you face during development, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was balancing accessibility with depth. We wanted the game to be easy to learn but hard to master. We also had to ensure smooth performance in a browser and then steam environment. We are still fixing, building, struggling with user experience, and many bugs are holding our awesome features back.

How has the community responded and how do you use feedback?

The response has been very positive. Players appreciate the fairness of the system and the unique approach to card battles. We’re constantly gathering feedback from the community on Discord and Steam, and we use it to guide updates, balance changes, and new features.

What new features or game modes can players expect soon?

We’re planning special events, tournaments, and new content updates to keep the game fresh. Players can expect new cards, seasonal changes, and exciting game modes that expand the battlefield experience. We can not share much :)

Are there plans to release versions for other platforms such as consoles or mobile?

For now, Dfiance is available on browser and Steam, but we definitely see the potential of expanding to mobile still in this year. Accessibility is key, and we want players to enjoy the game wherever they are. 

What do you hope players will take away from Dfiance?

We hope players experience the thrill of tactical battles and the satisfaction of winning through skill. Most of all, we want them to feel part of a fair, competitive community where strategy always comes first.