Player Engagement
Ongoing coverage on Player Engagement.
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If You Were Going to Start GMing
This article gathers advice from experienced individuals for those new to Game Mastering (GMing). It addresses common concerns such as balancing player freedom with story direction, increasing player engagement, choosing the right game system, and managing preparation time. The author plans to answer these questions in future posts.
Roblox's string of bad luck persists as player numbers continue to plummet and the company's stock price with it
Roblox reported a significant decline in its second financial quarter, with player engagement and stock price plummeting by nearly 27 percent. The company attributes the drop to a lack of viral games and a shift towards experiences with less monetization. This marks the third consecutive quarter of declining daily active users, impacting the company's valuation and leading to cautious financial estimates for the remainder of the year.
Roblox Blames Falling Player Numbers and In-Game Spending on Its Push to Recommend Less Slop to Kids — And There Being No Replacement for Last Year's Viral Hit Grow a Garden
Roblox has experienced a significant drop in player numbers and in-game spending compared to the previous summer. The company attributes this decline partly to its efforts to recommend less content to younger players and the absence of a viral hit like 'Grow a Garden' to replace last year's popular games.
Baldur's Gate 3's "billion" mods can make it the next Skyrim – just as Larian intended
Baldur's Gate 3 has surpassed one billion mod downloads across its internal client and Nexus Mods, demonstrating significant player engagement three years after its launch. Larian Studios, the developer, released statistics highlighting the success of its modding support, which has helped maintain the game's relevance and player base, drawing comparisons to the long-term success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
The Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Marvel's Spider-Man resurgence proves that games don't always need new…
Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Marvel's Spider-Man games are experiencing significant player count surges, driven by the success of recent blockbuster films. Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has boosted interest in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, while "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has propelled Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered back into Steam's top sellers. This trend highlights the growing synergy between film and gaming, where movies can effectively revitalize older titles and extend player experiences.
Halo: Campaign Evolved was the 4th most popular game on Xbox at launch in the US but only 29th on PS5, analyst says
Halo: Campaign Evolved saw a strong launch in the US, ranking fourth in daily active users on Xbox, with 8% of players engaging with the game. However, its performance was lower on PC (14th place, 2% of users) and PlayStation 5 (29th place, 1% of users). Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that while the game is a best-seller on PlayStation 5, the data highlights the challenge new titles face against established live service games.
The Odyssey release saw Assassin's Creed: Odyssey player engagement jump 90%, analyst says Ubisoft can thank Christopher Nolan for its best week in years
Player engagement for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Odyssey surged by 90% following the release of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of The Odyssey. Analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics reported that active players nearly doubled from 122,000 to 233,000 across platforms, with PlayStation and Xbox seeing significant increases. This boost in engagement, attributed to cultural spillover from the film, also led to modest sales increases for the 2018 title.
Analyst data: Assassin's Creed Odyssey experiences surge in daily active users following Christopher Nolan film
Following the release of the Christopher Nolan film 'Odyssey', Assassin's Creed Odyssey saw a 90% increase in daily active users across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Engagement surged from 122,000 to 233,000 users within ten days, with Xbox showing the largest increase. Analysts attribute this spike to the game's availability on subscription services like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
Bethesda provides Starfield proof of life – the space RPG "remains an important part of our future," has been played by over 17 million players, and there's plenty to come in Year 3
Bethesda has reassured fans that Starfield remains a key focus, with plans for its third year of content, including new stories and gameplay improvements. The space RPG has surpassed 17 million players, with nearly a billion hours logged. This announcement comes amidst broader discussions about Xbox's studio restructuring and Bethesda's other upcoming projects like The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout remasters.
Grieving Destiny 2 players on Steam boosted the game from 32nd place all the way up to 5th for US active users last…
Destiny 2 experienced a significant surge in player engagement on Steam, climbing from 32nd to 5th place in monthly active US users according to data from Mat Piscatella. This boost occurred following Bungie's final update for the game, despite recent layoffs impacting the Destiny 2 team as Bungie shifts focus to Marathon.
Blizzard ends support for Overwatch's MOBA-inspired Stadium mode, no more heroes or maps to be added
Blizzard Entertainment is ending support for Overwatch's Stadium mode due to low player numbers, with no new heroes or maps planned. Game director Aaron Keller announced that while Stadium will receive seasonal balance updates, development focus will shift to new experimental 6v6 modes aimed at improving match dynamics and player experience in Role Queue.
'I'd Take It in a Second' — Cyberpunk 2077 Player Resurgence Has Fans Calling on CD Projekt to Change Its Mind and Release More DLC
Following a resurgence in player numbers driven by a sale and hype for the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, fans are urging CD Projekt Red to reconsider its decision and release more downloadable content for Cyberpunk 2077. This sentiment is amplified by the ongoing support and additional DLC for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Path of Exile 2 for Busy Adults | TAG
This guide offers strategies for busy adults to engage with Path of Exile 2, a demanding ARPG with frequent league resets. It recommends focusing on the campaign and standard league progression, skipping competitive elements like ladder climbing and complex trade optimization. The article suggests a minimum time commitment of 6-8 hours per week for a satisfying experience and outlines realistic paths for new and returning players, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing core skill gems and basic atlas progression.
Nobody Plays New Games Anymore: The 2026 Playtime Data | TAG
Recent data from Valve's Steam Replay and Newzoo reports indicate that new game releases consistently capture only 14-17% of player playtime on PC, with older titles dominating the remaining hours. This trend holds true across platforms, with Xbox showing the highest engagement for new releases at 18%. The analysis suggests this is due to factors like the prevalence of live service games, adult time constraints, and the value proposition of established back-catalog titles, rather than a decline in player interest.
What Keeps Players Engaged Beyond Their Favorite Games and Why? | Invision Game Community
This article explores the psychological hooks and retention mechanics that keep players engaged with video games beyond their initial enjoyment. It discusses the substitution effect, the importance of social connections and virtual communities, and how dopamine loops and unpredictable rewards contribute to long-term player investment. The analysis also touches on how different genres utilize specific mechanics to maintain player interest and how games can serve as a form of escapism and therapeutic routine.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wants the company to "entertain more than a billion people" every day: here's why that's a deeply unrealistic thing to say
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated her ambition for the company to entertain over a billion people daily, a goal that significantly exceeds current industry peaks like Fortnite and Roblox. This statement follows news of Xbox studios splitting off and approximately 3,600 layoffs. While challenging, Sharma believes this can be achieved, potentially leveraging King's mobile success with Candy Crush to reach the ambitious target.
Xbox's CEO wants its games to cater to 'more than a billion people each day', or 24 times more than the peak population of Steam, which is delusional
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated a goal for Xbox to entertain over a billion people daily, a figure significantly larger than the peak concurrent users of platforms like Steam or even the highest subscriber counts for games like World of Warcraft. This ambitious target is discussed critically in light of recent studio closures and layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
Marvel Rivals After 6 Months for Adults | TAG
Six months after its launch in late 2024, Marvel Rivals remains a viable live service option for busy adults, offering short matches and a casual mode that respects player time. While the battle pass progression can be demanding, the game's design elements, including cross-platform play and hero variety, make it sustainable for those with limited weekly hours, though ranked play requires significant commitment.
Why Modern Players Expect Casino Games to Borrow Features From Video Game
Modern casino games are increasingly incorporating features from video games, such as progression systems, skill-based elements, and immersive visuals, to appeal to a new generation of players. This trend, known as gamification, aims to enhance player engagement by making casino experiences more interactive and rewarding, blurring the lines between traditional gambling and video entertainment.
How Progression Systems Compare Between Slot Games and Competitive Xbox Titles
This analysis compares progression systems in slot games and competitive Xbox titles, highlighting how both genres use milestones and rewards to drive player engagement and retention. It explores how short-term achievements and long-term goals are implemented to maintain player interest across diverse gaming experiences.
