The technology behind Mahjong Trails’ global success
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The key to success in a crowded game market is exceeding player expectations. Learn how the scalable tech stack behind one of the world’s largest games was key to its success, why it’s crucial to prioritize technology from development to launch, and more.
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Why is the technology behind a game so important? It comes down to the fact that in the end, games are pure entertainment, aimed at making players happy, says Henning Kosmack, CEO and co-founder of MegaZebra, the studio behind Mahjong Trails. But even the happiest user won’t tolerate friction in a game — and in a media market packed with near-infinite content, it’s easier than ever to abandon a lagging game and never return.
“Good technology will not make a great game,” Kosmack says. “But bad technology will kill even the best game.”
It’s especially critical as user acquisition keeps getting more expensive: the noise level in the market keeps rising, and user privacy changes, in a charge led by Apple, have hamstrung targeted marketing in a variety of ways.
“For a game like ours, it’s important that once we have a user, ideally they will be so happy with everything that they’ll stick around for a long time,” he says. “Instead of us constantly churning out new games that people might play for two weeks or so, we’re focused on the long tail. That means constantly bringing new content and new features into the game, which comes with extra tech challenges.”
Kosmack also points out that the gaming market is a volatile one, in which games that are languishing, generally unloved, could suddenly go viral — and right out of the gate, any studio should have the infrastructure to support that. It’s not just about running smoothly,
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