Alpha tests
Alpha tests are typically the first round of tests you’ll do for your game. You’ll run these early on in the development phase, and they can help you identify any underlying glitches, design choices, technical issues, and more.
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Soft launch
Soft launching is when you release your game to a specific market or a restricted audience, before your full launch.
Similar to your beta test, soft launching lets you get an idea of how your game performs in the real world, without releasing globally. This is more popular with mobile games, where it’s main source of income is highly tied to ads and in-app purchases.
Why is soft-launching important?
First impressions count. When trying out your game for the first time, the player is deciding whether or not they want to commit to playing (even steam has a 2 hour refund window). So you need to make sure your game is up to scratch. Bugs, downtime, long queues can all ruin the player experience. Soft launching is your saving-grace period so you can perfect your game before sharing with the masses.
Related Terms
Beta tests
Beta testing is when you get a group of players to test your game, typically when your game is close to launch day.
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