Designing for Emerging Player Motivations | The Blueprint for Game Retention & Growth
In this data-driven session, Anish Baby George (Meta’s Head of Games Growth & Monetization) breaks down the psychological drivers behind the most engaging game experiences. Discover how to translate core motivational insights into game mechanics that foster social connection and player agency. You’ll also explore how to structure effective live service events and high-impact holiday campaigns that drive retention and growth on the Meta Horizon Store.
💡 What you’ll learn:
- How to turn player motivations into actionable game design
- A full playbook for building and running high-impact seasonal events
- A proven framework for live service operations
Recorded live in September 2024 as part of the Meta Horizon Start Summit.
🎙️ SPEAKER
Anish Baby George, Head of Games Growth & Monetization
▶️ VIDEO CHAPTERS
👋 INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE AUDIENCE
🕒 00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
🕒 01:33 - Defining the Teen & Young Adult (TAYA) Audience (Ages 13-24)
🕒 05:19 - Core Principles for Designing with Safety & Privacy
🧠 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TAYA PLAYERS
🕒 06:52 - The 6 Key Aspects of Successful TAYA Games
🕒 10:02 - The Science: Self-Determination Theory (PENS Framework)
🕒 12:01 - Motivation 1: Relatedness (Social Connection)
🕒 14:11 - Motivation 2: Competence (Skill & Mastery)
🕒 15:52 - Motivation 3: Autonomy (Choice & Control)
⚙️ ACTIONABLE DESIGN & MONETIZATION PRINCIPLES
🕒 17:26 - Principle 1: Foster Skill Building with Simple Interactions
🕒 18:29 - Principle 2: Integrate Deep Customization
🕒 19:11 - Principle 3: Create Flexible Social Spaces
🕒 20:17 - Principle 4: Structure Progression (e.g., Season Pass)
🗓️ LIVE SERVICE & HOLIDAY EVENT STRATEGY
🕒 21:25 - The Live Service Cadence: A Framework for Ongoing Content
🕒 25:02 - Why Holiday Events Are Critical for Growth
🕒 26:12 - The 5-Factor Playbook for a Successful Holiday Event
✅ CONCLUSION & AUDIENCE COMPARISON
🕒 30:12 - Key Differences: Designing for Older Audiences (25+)
🕒 31:52 - Summary: How to Combine Motivations for a Hit Game
📚 RESOURCES
➡️Growth Insights Series: Tips for Monetizing In-App Purchases on Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/tips-monetizing-in-app-purchases-free-to-play-strategies
➡️ Growth Insights Series: Building Competency in New User Onboarding:
➡️ Growth Insights Series: Effective Expectation Setting in Your Product Details Page
➡️ Developers Blog: https://developers.meta.com/resources/blog/
➡️ Meta Quest Developer Hub: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unity/ts-mqdh/
🔗 CONNECT WITH US
➡️ Sign up to get the latest news from Meta Horizon: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/newsletter
🚀 ACCELERATE YOUR JOURNEY WITH META HORIZON START
Meta Horizon Start offers the expert guidance and technical resources you need to take your development journey to the next level. Join a community of forward-thinking developers and get go-to-market support to successfully deploy and scale your app on Meta Horizon OS.
Apply to Start today: https://developers.meta.com/horizon/discover/programs/start
