Emerging Trends in Gaming LiveOps

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In the continuously evolving gaming world, Live Operations (LiveOps) plays an important role. In the past, games could do well without Live Operations because there was less competition for players’ attention. With many games and apps available, keeping players engaged is harder. LiveOps is needed now to update games regularly and hold players’ interest in the face of many distractions. It ensures the game runs smoothly and keeps players engaged by regularly introducing exciting new features through updates.

After spending nearly eighteen years in the game development industry, with a dedicated decade focused on LiveOps, I had the opportunity to witness the significant impact of LiveOps on running games.

There was a time when the game’s success was determined solely by its initial release. Today, it’s all about continuous engagement, dynamic content, and personalized interactions with players. Here, we will explore the core aspects that lead to successful LiveOps. I will also talk about how game developers are responsible for taking on a bigger role in safeguarding player’s investments of time and money.

Understanding LiveOps

Live Operations, or LiveOps, is a dynamic approach to game development that involves continuously managing, updating, and optimizing a live game after its release. It’s about keeping the game alive and running and providing players with fresh content, exciting events, offers, and regular updates.

Curious to know what is done in LiveOps?

The team sits together and strategizes to keep the gaming experience fresh, engaging, and relevant for players.

Here are key activities typically planned under LiveOps.

• Releasing Content: Releasing new content such as new characters, level maps, new playing modes, etc. Also releasing new gameplay features, mechanics, or modes to keep the experience exciting.
• Hosting In-game Events: Hosting regular events, challenges, and quests for a specific duration to add variety and challenges to the gameplay. Seasonal Events are tied to holidays or seasons and often come with special rewards and challenges.
• Regular Updates and Patches: Fixing bugs or any issues that arise post-launch and balancing changes such as tweaking game mechanics, difficulty, character abilities, or other elements to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all players is taken into consideration when releasing a game update.
• Performance Monitoring and Tracking Analytics: Defining and prioritizing key performance indicators (KPIs) for the features going live in the updates. These may include latency, uptime, server response time, user engagement, conversion rates, and more. Establish benchmarks for these KPIs to identify deviations from normal performance.
• Monetisation Strategies: Providing limited-time discounts or promotions /offers to incentivize player spending. Through In-app purchases offering virtual goods, buffs, health packs, or other items for purchase within the game.
• Community Feedback and Engagement: Connecting with players on social media platforms and forums to communicate with players, share updates, and gather feedback.
• Live Customer Support: Providing timely and effective customer support to address player inquiries, complaints, or technical issues.

Below are points that can be followed for LiveOps success.

• Player-Centric Approach: A Player-Centric Approach in Live Operations (LiveOps) means taking most of the discussion, keeping players in mind. This involves taking feedback from the player community and making changes to the feature. Also, there should be a common platform where all player communities can come and share their thoughts and experiences and feel connected. Being open and fair, including everyone, and adding fun surprises are all part of this approach. It’s about having a long-lasting relationship with players rather than just focusing on short-term success. Ultimately, a player-centric approach aims to create not just games but living, evolving ecosystems where players feel a genuine sense of ownership and belonging.
• Data-Driven Insights: This involves using data analytics to make informed decisions. This data helps understand player behavior, preferences, and habits. By analyzing this information, games can be tailored to one player or a group. This makes their experience more fun. It also helps to quickly find and fix problems. It also helps to plan fun events. And it helps to ensure fairness and security in the game. This approach also guides decisions on in-game offerings and the timing of updates. In the end, using data makes gaming better. It is tailored to players’ desires and behaviors. This shapes the future of Live Operations in gaming.
• Monetisation Strategies with Integrity: Gaming means making money fairly and honestly while keeping players happy. It’s about finding a balance between making a profit and making sure players have a good time. This approach includes clear prices for things you can buy in the game and not making it unfair for players who don’t spend money. Ads are added in a way that doesn’t bother players too much, and players can choose to watch them for rewards. If there’s a subscription option, it should give players special stuff that makes it worth the cost. The privacy of players and their information is respected, and their opinions are taken into account. The goal is to have players stay and enjoy the game for a long time, not just spend a lot quickly and leave. Remember to display drop rates or probability when Loot boxes or Gacha items are available in the offering. This adds a positive gaming experience and keeps the game successful in the long run.
• Community Engagement: Community Engagement in gaming is all about bringing players together. Developers create spaces like forums and social media groups where players can talk and share about the game. They listen to what players say and use their ideas to make the game better. Events, Quest, Multiplayer events, Leaderboards, and competitions give players a chance to play together and have fun. Good behavior is encouraged; players who help out might get special recognition. Everyone is included, no matter who they are. By keeping players informed and involved, the game becomes more enjoyable, and everyone feels like they are connected. This trend is all about making games a place where players feel welcome.
• Performance Optimization: Performance optimization is needed for a smooth gameplay experience. Developers should work on things like ensuring the graphics are clear and the game's FPS is maintained. Players can enjoy the game more and keep coming back by making it run better.

Being Responsible as a Game Developer / Publisher

As developers, we have the power to shape a player’s experience, and with that power comes great responsibility. It’s crucial to acknowledge that players invest their valuable time and hard-earned money in our games.

Here are some vital considerations.

• Transparency in Monetisation: Communicate pricing and any in-game purchases. Stop deceptive practices with loot boxes that can lead to frustration and distrust.
• Data Privacy and Security: Protect player data and privacy rights. Be transparent about how user information is collected, stored, and used.
• Establishing a Feedback Loop: Actively listen to players’ feedback and respond promptly to their queries and concerns, making necessary changes in the games that align with the players’ expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gaming LiveOps is emerging at a remarkable pace, driven by technological advancements, changing player expectations, and industry innovations. As we’ve examined the new trends in gaming LiveOps, it’s clear that this field is not just a support function but a crucial part of the gaming experience.

The emphasis on community building and social features is creating immersive and interconnected gaming ecosystems, fostering a sense of belonging among players.

Also, the move to the games as a service (GaaS) model is changing the industry. It pushes for ongoing development, updates, and player involvement, which is beyond the old release model. LiveOps is becoming the heartbeat of gaming. It pulses with constant updates, events, and challenges, keeping players hooked and invested for the long term.