The Art of Balancing Business and Player Experience in the Games-as-a-Service Space
Paw Larsen, Vice President of Product Management at Blizzard Entertainment, has a unique perspective on the games-as-a-service space. With a background in management consulting and leadership roles at Epic Games, Paw brings a strategic mindset to his current role. In our conversation, he shared his insights on balancing business decisions with player experience, staying engaged with the gaming community, and finding inspiration from passion.
The Delicate Balance of Value and User Experience
Paw emphasized the importance of finding a balance between providing value to the company and delivering a great user experience. “Our audience is very outspoken and passionate about what we do,” he said. “Getting really direct feedback from players is both awesome and challenging.” To achieve this balance, Paw’s team constantly evaluates and changes their approach, questioning everything they do, even when things are working well.
Staying Engaged with the Gaming Community
Paw believes that engaging with the community is crucial for success in the gaming industry. “You cannot succeed if you don’t engage with your community,” he said. His team members are encouraged to interact with players, share plans and ideas, and celebrate with them when things go well. They also take feedback seriously, digging deep to understand the root cause of dissatisfaction and making changes accordingly.
Finding Inspiration from Passion
Paw’s team is comprised of passionate gamers who bring their own experiences and perspectives to the table. “Everybody plays games and is really passionate about games, so by default, you get a lot of inspiration from doing that,” he said. This passion helps drive innovation and creativity, leading to new ideas and approaches.
Competitive Analysis and Inspiration
Paw’s team conducts competitive analysis to stay ahead of the curve, but they also draw inspiration from other games and industries. “I think it’s multifaceted,” he said. “Competitive analysis and research for a PM team are absolutely critical because it gives you confidence in decisions and features.” By looking at what others are doing and asking “Why are they doing this? Would I do it differently?”, Paw’s team stays informed and inspired.
Lessons from Fortnite’s Success
During his time at Epic Games, Paw was part of the team that took Fortnite from zero to 1,000. He credits the game’s free-to-play model and willingness to take risks as key factors in its success. “It’s very hard to replicate,” he said. “There were so many things that made that what it was.” From a personal perspective, Paw learned the importance of not being too risk-averse and continuing to experiment and try new things.
The Future of Gaming
Paw is bullish on emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and VR, seeing them as opportunities to create new experiences and jobs. “I think most people have a pragmatic angle and see what it will help us do,” he said. While it’s too early to fully understand the impact of these technologies, Paw believes they will change the gaming industry in meaningful ways.
By staying engaged with the community, finding inspiration from passion, and balancing business decisions with player experience, Paw’s team is well-positioned to continue delivering innovative and engaging gaming experiences. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, Paw’s insights offer valuable lessons for product managers and developers looking to stay ahead of the curve.