The future of gaming: Social ecosystems that transcend platforms

venturebeat.com:

Presented by Scopely

Developers have a popularly-held belief: We’re not just competing for players’ time and affinity in an increasingly crowded games market, we’re also vying for their attention against all digital activities, from social media to messaging apps, original content, and more.

But what if instead of viewing our audience’s varied media consumption as a competitive threat, we see it as an opportunity to fundamentally expand our game ecosystems and engage with our players through even more touchpoints?

To succeed, game companies need differentiated ecosystems that are part of a constantly evolving flywheel of community, engagement and evergreen worlds. Developers are defining the breakneck evolution and future of digital experiences. That responsibility — both to players and to the industry — needs to be taken seriously, because it will impact everything from engagement and retention to your reputation and your bottom line. 

How do you make that happen? I asked this question to key leaders across Scopely’s portfolio of games, including Massimo Maietti, VP of product at Scopely and general manager of “MONOPOLY GO!”; Naz Amarchi, SVP at Scopely and general manager of “Stumble Guys”; and David Eckelberry, SVP at Scopely and general manager of “Star Trek Fleet Command.” Read on for their crucial insights.

Game ecosystems offer multiple online touchpoints for social interaction, such as Facebook Groups, Discord servers and regular company-hosted live events — all in order to cultivate communities of players who feel empowered to engage whenever, wherever and however they desire. Ensuring community interaction is easy to find and join helps make it central to the gaming experience, and keeps players regularly coming