Successful Game Launch: Critical Milestones and Metrics

Taking your game to a hard launch with a publisher isn’t just about delivering a finished product. It’s about proving your game’s potential with strong milestones and performance metrics.

📑 Key Milestones

🔹 Prototype: Showcase the core gameplay loop, art style, and unique selling points.
🔹 Retention & Monetization Testing: Early UA tests to measure:

Retention Rates: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7
Session Length & Frequency
CPI
ARPDAU
LTV

🔹 Soft Launch: Test in limited markets, validate long-tail retention and LTV, and refine your UA strategy. Aim for early profitability.
🔹 Hard Launch Prep: Align with marketing, finalize stability, optimize monetization, and ensure scalability.

📌 Rule #1: Strong milestones reduce risks and build trust with publishers.

🔢 Metrics That Matter

🔹 Retention Rates:
Day 1: 35-40%+ (Strong initial engagement)
Day 3: 20-25%+ (Maintaining interest)
Day 7: 10-15%+ (Long-term viability)
Day 30: 5-10%+ (Profitability sweet spot)

🔹 Monetization Metrics:
ARPDAU: Shows daily revenue (aim for $0.30-$0.50, genre-dependent).
LTV: High LTV supports scalable UA.
Conversion Rates: Track in-app purchases and ad frequency (rewarded and interstitial).

🔹 Engagement & Performance:
DAU/MAU Ratio: 20%+ means strong engagement.
Session Length & Frequency: More playtime, more ad revenue opportunities.

📌 Rule #2: Strong metrics lead to stronger publisher confidence and higher UA budgets.

🔥 How to Stay on Track

🔹 Set Realistic Goals: Avoid overpromising on SOW and milestones. Negotiate metric buffers (D1 retention goal of 35% with a 10% buffer).
🔹 Leverage In-Game Metrics: Build a good relationship with your Product Manager. Understand analytics like churn analysis.
🔹 Playtest Your Game: Services like PlaytestCloud offer unbiased, real-user feedback.
🔹 Iterate Fast: Use data and testing to refine gameplay, fix bugs, and pivot if needed.
🔹 Communicate Early & Often: Keep your publisher updated – no surprises!

📌 Rule #3: Be agile, use data wisely, and maintain transparency.

✅ Steps to a Successful Hard Launch

🔹 Hit Soft Launch KPIs: Make sure key metrics are solid. Scaling raises CPI and lowers LTV.
🔹 Polish & Optimize: Final QA, performance tuning, and stability checks.
🔹 Align with Publisher Strategy: Sync marketing and finalize UA plans.
🔹 Lock Down Partnerships: Meet platform requirements, brief PR, and complete outstanding tasks.

📌 Rule #4: Data-driven decisions, polished execution, and clear communication lead to a smooth hard launch.

📢 Final Thought: Deliver Milestones, Hit Metrics, Secure Success

Delivering the right milestones and metrics isn’t just about hitting targets, it’s about proving your studio’s capability and your game’s market potential. Publishers back studios that show progress, hit KPIs, and communicate well.

📌 Stay focused, deliver results, and build trust. Each milestone brings you closer to hard launch!