user acquisition strategies Archives

Gamer Insights: Driving User Acquisition in 2024

Kelsy Medeiros on June 25, 2024

Like in many other industries, staying ahead of the competition and mastering user acquisition is crucial for game studios. The gaming sector faced numerous challenges in 2023. Whether you’re part of a game studio or a player in the industry, you’ve likely pondered how to connect with your target audience.

This article explores key trends for 2024 and notable shifts in gamer behavior. These insights will empower you to craft effective marketing strategies for your games.

Learn how to improve your user acquisition strategies for this year, even on a shoestring budget

5 Key Gaming Trends That Influenced Player Habits and Preferences in 2023

Audience shifts: Last year, we noticed the expanding diversity of game audiences because it encompassed even more older generations. Surprisingly, over 40% of Baby Boomers were actively engaged with games, highlighting this demographic’s enduring and untapped potential.
Cross-Platform Support: Platform optimization was also essential. Younger generations predominantly gravitated towards PC and console gaming, which helped studios develop content catering to these platforms. 2023 marked a growing trend of multi-platform gaming, underscoring the importance of having cross-platform play as an option to broaden the potential of the game’s reach to different audiences.
Player Engagement: Younger generations were primarily motivated by social interaction, immersion, and achievement, while older generations favoured more casual gaming for leisure. This insight enabled studios to craft games that resonated with specific age groups, which enhanced player engagement.
Monetization Strategies: Gen Z and Millennials were more inclined to be big spenders in gaming, giving studios an advantage in implementing in-game monetization approaches. By understanding the factors that motivated spending, such as in-game currencies and exclusive content, studios could maximize their revenue potential.
Content Preferences: Lastly, the rising popularity of gaming video content, especially among younger audiences, presented a valuable opportunity for studios to connect with their players. By creating and promoting gaming-related videos, reviews, and collaborations with influencers, studios effectively engaged with their audience outside the game, generating excitement and building a dedicated fanbase.

The Key to Effective Game Marketing in 2024

Based on market analysis, 2024 expects consumers to engage with video games beyond mere gameplay. The graphic below shows an expected increase in development in mobile games, in-game advertising and cloud gaming. Games that follow gamer behaviour trends tend to have successful user acquisition strategies.

User acquisition - graph on current video game market shares for 2024

_{Current Video Game Market Share as of 2024 – Statista}

Embracing Simplicity and Strategy in Digital Board Games’ Rise

In 2023 alone, there has been a significant spike in gamers’ interest in classic board games that have been ported to gaming platforms.

13% of released titles in 2023 were board games that sold millions of copies. Microtransactions and level rewards implemented in the games give gamers a sense of urgency to keep returning to the leisure genre.

_{Chess Online is available on multiple platforms, with over 300,000 active users daily as of January 2024.}

Need for Online Multiplayer Games

Based on engagement through different platforms such as PC and Xbox, core active gamers between ages 12 and 21 spend 52% of their time on games online versus battles.

What brings gamers back is the valuable content that can be unlocked through playtime and achievement unlocking. Gamers feel rewarded for the time spent on the game by unlocking special outfits, in-game currency and new maps and modes.

_{Fortnite by Epic Games is the perfect example of a 7-year-old game still among the most active, with 500 million active users as of January 2024. Epic Games releases daily content and new features and modes every season, presenting gamers with rich and new experiences.}

Harnessing Nostalgia as an Effective Marketing Strategy

Games that have been locked in a gamer’s heart while they relate to a particular time they had when playing it make nostalgia.

Many games from the 1980s and 90s are becoming harder to find as old cartridges wear down. Studios like Nintendo use their recognizable franchises and re-release classic titles in new presentation experiences.

User acquisition - example from Super Mario RPG

The Shift from Physical Game Purchases to Platform Subscription Services

Financial instability makes gamers join online subscription services. Like Netflix, platforms like Xbox offer monthly or annual subscription paid services. The monthly subscription base fee allows gamers to play hundreds of games in one place.

_{Xbox’s GamePass has surpassed 25 million active subscribers as of October 2023.}

Make Your Audience Integral to a Game’s Success

Social media is a powerful tool for driving user acquisition. With an active social media presence, studios can connect with their players on a personal level, fostering a sense of community and engagement. When players feel more connected to the development process, they are more likely to support and promote the game.

Engaging with gamers on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Discord allows studios to gather valuable feedback and insights. Players appreciate when their voices are heard and their opinions are valued. This interaction not only helps studios improve their creations based on player preferences but also builds loyalty and excitement among the audience.

By involving gamers in the development process, studios can create a buzz around their game. Regular updates, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive posts keep the community engaged and eager for the next development. This organic growth of interest and support can significantly enhance user acquisition and retention.

Connecting With Your Audience

Creating polls, asking for feedback, and hosting live Q&A sessions are excellent ways to involve your audience. These activities make players feel like they are part of the team and contribute directly to the game’s success. When players see their suggestions implemented, they become more invested in the game and are likely to spread the word to their network.

Building a Community

An engaged community can be your game’s biggest asset. Encourage players to share their experiences, create content, and participate in discussions. User-generated content and word-of-mouth marketing are invaluable for user acquisition. A thriving community attracts new players and keeps existing ones coming back for more.

Single-Player Campaigns

72% of gamers prefer to enjoy a video game’s single-player campaign’s stories rather than going out to watch a movie. Gamers enjoy single-player story modes because they can control them and make decisions that will impact the ending.

A Winning Formula for Game Development Success in 2024

A successful user acquisition strategy combines deep knowledge of your player base with creative approaches. This blend can elevate your game to new heights. By embracing today’s strategies, video games can thrive, connect with diverse gamer behaviors, and create unforgettable experiences.

Now that you have insights into gamer behavior, it’s time to launch a successful video game. We look forward to playing it!

4 User Acquisition Strategies to Grow Your Player Base

Erica on June 25, 2024

Hey there, fellow indie game dev! We know that making your own game is a lot of work, and often, marketing is the last thing on your mind. However, small changes in your go-to-market strategy can make all the difference and help your game succeed. In this article, we’ll share 4 User Acquisition Strategies to Grow Your Player Base. These proven techniques will help you reach your ideal players and grow your game’s audience.

There’s no magic formula; it’s simple: you need to get it in front of players! Let’s dive in:

1. Create your own website

We know, everybody says that! It can also take some precious time you may not have. But having a website for your game is a great way to establish a presence online. You might not need one of those fancy corporate websites full of sub-pages and extra fluff; a single page is enough to showcase your game, share updates, and even sell it.

Just make sure to deliver a visually pleasing and easy-to-navigate landing. You might prefer high-quality images and videos that showcase your game properly. How about using the game characters to help bring life to your design? How about giving your players a sneak peek at your gameplay? Don’t forget to include a call to action that encourages your visitors to download and play your game.

Examples of good call-to-actions (CTAs): Download Now, Buy Now, Buy this game. You can always look at what other people are doing for inspiration!

2. Reaching Out to Gaming Influencers

We’re in the influencer’s world, and surely, you can find at least one that fits your game, like Elusive Agency for example. But you don’t need to reach out to those influencers with billions of followers; they will probably be expensive and difficult to reach out to. So don’t spend your energy on them for now.

Influencers with a relevant number of followers can help you reach a wider audience by promoting your game to their followers. Look for influencers specializing in gaming and playing games similar to the one you have been developing.

Reach out to them and offer them a free copy of your game for a review or shoutout. If they like it, they may even become a long-term partner. It’s a win-win! As a rule of thumb, anyone with over 1000 followers is considered a micro-influencer, and they will most likely agree to partner with you!

3. Participate in Gaming Communities

You would be surprised at how gaming communities can be great places to find potential players. Join forums, subreddits, and Discord channels that are relevant to your game. Game Jams, tournaments, Comiccons, everything is worth it for you to participate and connect with players.

If we notice something in our research and based on our professional experience, the gaming industry is powerful and engaged. You gain rewards for engaging in discussions with your community and similar communities on Discord, social media platforms, meet-ups, and gaming associations.

Everybody likes to be included in the process, so share details about your progress, answer questions (some cannot even be related to your game), and provide valuable insights about your project. Just be careful with self-promotion in private groups. They might have rules that are important to cope with, such as being respectful and not spamming the places.

I like to say that the secret is to tell a story and build a relationship with the communities. It’s also good to look at how other people do it—how they interact with their community or what story they use behind their games.

People like to relate, so it’s always a good idea to make your game and even yourself more relatable.

4. Using Social Media to get noticed

You’ll see this here many times. You know what? Because it works! I genuinely believe that social media is one of the most accessible and powerful tools you could use in your user acquisition strategy.

Platforms like Twitter (or X, I miss the bird!), Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and even Facebook (yeah, not dead yet) are excellent tools to share behind-the-scenes content, teasers, and release updates you may be doing to your game.

Engage with your followers by replying to comments, resharing their posts about your game (it’s always a nice touch; it’s like a celebrity is interacting with us!), and creating hashtags and incentivizing them to use and tag you. Be extremely careful with comments on their reviews, embrace the feedback, and make yourself open to discussions. You might get some rich insights on that.

Use your creativity and skills to make the most of video content; you already have it handy, so why not give yourself a chance to promote your game? Certainly, there’s no magic formula, but our blog offers a wealth of free DIY articles and techniques to help you craft effective marketing strategies at your fingertips!

Navigating the challenges of promoting your own game can seem daunting, but implementing these 4 User Acquisition Strategies can help you grow your player base today. By creating a strong online presence, leveraging gaming influencers, engaging with communities, and utilizing social media, you can reach and grow your ideal audience effectively.

At GameRebellion, we’re here to help you succeed. Our marketing solutions are designed to uncover the hidden gems in your strategy and connect your game with the right players. Ready to take your game to the next level? Check out our Marketing Services and let’s talk!

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