Introduced by Xsolla
Recreation builders put on quite a lot of hats, typically managing advertising and marketing, gross sales, distribution, and buyer help on prime of sport creation. Whereas it’s a typical technique, it does have its limits—sustaining experience in new currencies, regional laws, fraud safety and all different transferring components of the enterprise could be a enormous drain on assets. Even established video games can really feel that drain, which is why one huge title determined to tackle a accomplice to assist with key updates.
You’re most likely conversant in Lord of the Rings On-line, the massively multiplayer on-line role-playing sport primarily based on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien. LOTRO launched greater than ten years in the past beneath Turbine, with nice success. Since then, the group that had been engaged on the sport at Turbine took over improvement as Standing Stone Video games. Their aim was to proceed to adapt and innovate the sport, so when the time got here to make some vital upgrades to the LOTRO expertise, they determined to get some assist.
They enlisted Xsolla, a platform constructed particularly for sport builders, to assist degree up their retailer conversions and stop fraud. It was a profitable collaboration—not simply due to the instruments and providers provided by Xsolla, but additionally as a result of Standing Stone Video games took a wise strategy to the partnership. Listed here are some greatest practices that helped them get essentially the most out of their integration with Xsolla.
A wise partnership can dramatically enhance your effectivity, however in the event you’re not aligned on what is required from the accomplice, you may wind up losing extra time and assets.
For instance, Xsolla usually acts because the service provider of report (MoR) for video games, managing relationships with a variety of world cost suppliers and sustaining compliance for every area around the globe. It is a time-saver for sport builders and protects them from the dangers and prices related to lack of compliance and fraud.
However LOTRO already had the power to handle danger and function contracts with cost suppliers. In consequence, Standing Stone Video games opted to work with a special providing—Xsolla Gateway—which gave them the instruments and providers they wanted with out the MoR dedication. It was a greater match and set the stage for larger effectivity and success.
When Standing Stone Video games tapped Xsolla for assist with the LOTRO retailer, the appear and feel of the shop didn’t match the LOTRO sport. This had a unfavourable influence on gross sales—when sport gamers had been booted out of the expertise, their suspicions had been raised in regards to the integrity of the sale. In consequence, LOTRO noticed a decrease conversion price and much too many canceled purchases.
Xsolla understood the significance of consistency right here. They created a customized retailer interface that matched the appear and feel of LOTRO. This helped earn participant belief, leading to extra purchases and fewer cancellations.
When updating your video games, you’ll need to keep away from creating new friction factors for gamers. For instance, asking gamers to re-enter cost info introduces an annoying step that may undermine even the best enhancements.
In anticipation of the transition for LOTRO, Xsolla transferred all consumer account info to the brand new retailer, preserving the business customary “one-click” cost and guaranteeing that the brand new customized retailer labored with none issues. This saved transactions flowing and prevented deserted purchases.
The struggle in opposition to fraud is a balancing act—in the event you’re too lax, you’re susceptible to dangerous actors. For those who’re too strict, you danger blocking actual transactions and, finally, hurting income. It’s additionally a transferring goal—what prevents fraud right now may not work tomorrow. That’s why fraud prevention is commonly greatest managed by a devoted accomplice.
Standing Stone Video games benefitted from a partnership in a number of methods right here. They needed to manage what number of funds had been accepted per participant in a given time-frame—Xsolla allowed them to configure these settings. Xsolla additionally suggested them on the optimum parameters to go with transaction information to enhance fraud detection and dispute administration. And, to make it simpler to reconcile quantities from every cost system, Xsolla supplied an internet dashboard with transaction reporting—the identical one out there to Xsolla’s MoR shoppers.
As your sport viewers grows, so do the assets wanted to help that viewers. Xsolla helped LOTRO right here by enabling higher communications, akin to emails for in-store purchases and introducing new help channels, together with chat, Fb and a toll-free cellphone quantity, so gamers might extra simply attain help.
However new help channels received’t assist the sport or gamers if the assets aren’t in place to reply these requires assist. Xsolla understood this and supplied their very own buyer help assets to assist deal with participant points and questions.
One other concern is laws—as you introduce new channels like e-mail, it’s good to adjust to the foundations for every geographical area. This, too, is a posh, ongoing problem, so Standing Stone Video games appeared for a accomplice that will keep on prime of laws. (For instance, Xsolla ensured that LOTRO participant information is securely saved and absolutely GDPR compliant.)
Let’s face it—all of the innovation on the earth received’t matter if it doesn’t transfer the needle on the proper metrics. Luckily, Standing Stone Video games had the numbers to inform their story of success.
On account of their partnership with Xsolla, the shop conversion price climbed from 42% to 62% in only one month. Immediately the conversion price is 82%—virtually double the preliminary price. Alongside the best way, additionally they decreased the fraud price from 0.6% to 0.1%. And, final however not least, LOTRO additionally noticed speedy progress in sport gamers following the Xsolla integration, with a 700% enhance within the variety of returning sport prospects from launch to current day.
A very good partnership is greater than a transaction. For those who discover the proper accomplice and comply with these greatest practices for integration, you may set the stage for unimaginable, long-term progress whereas additionally releasing builders to concentrate on the most effective half—constructing a sport that stands out within the fiercely aggressive panorama.
Prepared to search out out what a wise partnership can do to your sport? Join with one in every of our sport consultants at [email protected].