Executing a Live Service Game Strategy with Business-Led Decision-Making

Managing productions from incubation to release and beyond through LiveOps excellence and scalable infrastructure

The live service landscape is a complex maze of potential rewards and pitfalls. To succeed, leaders must adopt a strategic, business-led approach that goes beyond exceptional design. This article outlines a robust framework for success in GaaS (Games-as-a-Service), driven by infrastructure, data and LiveOps excellence.

Download the Live Service Gaming Summit Agenda Here

The Rise of GaaS and the Changing Landscape

According to Newzoo, the global games market is projected to generate $212.4 billion by 2026. Players now expect dynamic, evolving worlds.

"The key to live service success lies in fostering a long-term relationship with your players." — Mike Morhaime, Co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment

LiveOps Powerhouse: From Incubation to Infinity

• Concept Incubation: Identify market gaps and define a value proposition balancing creativity with viability.
• Pre-Production & Development: Set KPIs, build scalable infrastructure and align vision with business outcomes.
• Launch: Drive go-to-market strategy and feedback loops from early player data.
• Long-Term LiveOps: Use analytics to refine content, balance the economy and increase retention.

LiveOps Excellence: The Engine of Player Engagement

• Data-Driven Decisions: Tailor experiences and optimize monetization through analytics.
  "At EA, analytics helped drive a 15% increase in player retention." — Blake Jorgensen, CFO, Electronic Arts
• Community Management: Empower managers to foster vibrant, loyal communities.
• Content Cadence: Schedule regular updates that are exciting but not overwhelming.
• Monetization: Choose sustainable models aligned with player expectations.

Infrastructure for Scale

• Cloud-Based Architecture: Supports growing player bases and updates.
• Microservices: Enables faster updates and modular scaling.
• DevOps: Ensures efficient collaboration and faster deployments.

Business Acumen & Strategic Vision

• Market Analysis: Track trends and stay agile.
• Financial Modeling: Predict revenue and plan resource allocation.
• Invest in Talent: Build a team skilled in LiveOps, data, and content creation.

Final Word: LiveOps as a Competitive Advantage

Success in GaaS requires creativity, data insight and operational precision. With a business-led mindset, leaders can create evolving worlds that engage players and generate sustainable growth.

"The best live service games are the ones that feel like living worlds." — Amy Henning

Download the Live Service Gaming Summit Agenda Here