20 Costly Production Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

20 Costly Production Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Skipping Pre Production
Validate gameplay, market fit, and timelines first.

2. Ignoring Player Feedback Early
Start playtesting early and often.

3. Overcomplicating the Core Loop
Focus on a simple, addictive loop first.

4. Underestimating Live Ops Complexity
Plan your live ops roadmap before launch.

5. Unrealistic Milestone Timelines
Set realistic milestones with buffer time for iterations.

6. Poor Communication Between Teams
Use daily standups and shared dashboards to stay in sync.

7. Ignoring Post Launch Metrics
Monitor retention, DAU, ARPU, and LTV to guide updates.

8. Over Monetizing Too Soon
Build engagement first, then monetize thoughtfully.

9. Overworking the Team
Foster a positive work culture and promote balance.

10. Skipping Market Research
Study your genre, competitors, and player expectations.

11. Neglecting Scalability
Build scalable systems early and test them thoroughly.

12. Lack of Clear Documentation
Maintain up-to-date documentation accessible to all teams.

13. Failing to Localize Properly
Localize content, events, & monetization for each market.

14. Disregarding Accessibility Features
Include options like subtitles, controls, and difficulty levels.

15. Crunch Time
Focus on sustainable schedules and proper resource allocation.

16. One Size Fits All Monetization
Segment your players and offer tailored experiences.

17. Mismanaging Outsourced Teams
Set clear expectations, regular check-ins, and shared milestones.

18. Not Testing Enough Platforms
Perform rigorous QA on every target platform.

19. Ignoring Community Building
Engage with players on social media, forums, and through events.

20. Neglecting Post Launch Support
Commit to ongoing updates and bug fixes to retain players.

PS: Which mistake did you learn about the hard way? Share below 👇