Best Practices for Showing Game Progress: Engaging Your Developer Community

Building a game is a marathon, not a sprint, and keeping your community engaged throughout the development cycle is crucial for success.

Effective communication about your game’s progress transforms passive observers into active supporters and future players.

Define Your Communication Cadence

Establish a consistent schedule for updates to set expectations with your community.

Whether it’s weekly devlogs, bi-weekly screenshots, or monthly deep dives, regularity is key.

This predictability helps your audience anticipate new content and keeps your game top of mind.

Showcase Tangible Milestones, Not Just Tasks

Focus on achievements that resonate with players, such as a new level completed or a core mechanic implemented.

Avoid technical jargon or internal task lists that lack immediate player appeal.

Highlighting visible progress makes the development journey more exciting for your audience.

Utilize Diverse Content Formats

Vary your content to keep updates fresh and engaging across different platforms.

Use short gameplay clips for social media, detailed blog posts for major announcements, and livestreams for Q&A sessions.

Visuals like screenshots, GIFs, and short videos are often more impactful than text-only updates.

Share the ‘Why’ Behind Design Decisions

Explain the reasoning behind significant design choices or changes to foster a deeper understanding.

This transparency builds trust and allows your community to feel more invested in the game’s evolution.