Antti Kananen

In the world of modern game development — especially F2P and hybrid monetization models — matchmaking is often treated as a technical backend feature. Something you just plug in. But in truth, matchmaking is far more than an algorithmic necessity. It is the engine that governs balance, progression, tension, reward, and even how well a game monetizes. Across genres — from ARPGs and MMORPGs to extraction shooters and team-based PvP brawlers — the way you match players determines not just who wins, but who sticks around, who spends, who grows, and who churns. Matchmaking Is More Than Just ELO Let’s start with the obvious: ELO-style ranking systems, widely used to match players of similar win/loss performance, are limited (incl. limitations to your business and scale). They assume skill is binary and ignore the full human context of play. That’s like […]

In a time when many games lean heavily on established systems — battle passes, gacha mechanics, and copied meta loops — this post is about looking beyond. In this post, I’m exploring, and discussing, Manipulator Mechanics (more specifically, “modern” Manipulator Mechanics in a systemic form, as we’ve had some forms of manipulator mechanisms in games existing for ages, e.g., time manipulation tied to a core gameplay — so, just for clarity, every time I discuss about Manipulator Mechanics / systems in this article, it’s about these “modern” types of systems instead of simplified ones) — a system that lets players tweak and influence the very nature (/the core) of gameplay runs through meta layers; offering a new layer of agency, strategy, and excitement across genres. The aim of this post is to inspire developers to imagine beyond what's typical and […]

After playing recently hours, and hours more, extraction shooters and several mobile games for entertainment — as well as for research purposes, as the case may be — I’ve grown being interested, and even hooked a bit, to the tension elements of these games. In addition to engaging with games with tension playing a big part in them, I’ve also become interested of how tension can be used effectively in game design, economy design, monetization design as well as on live ops and product marketing. This is what we’ll be covering in this article. Tension in Game Design Tension is a critical component of game design, shaping player engagement, emotional investment, and overall immersion. It plays a role across various genres, from fast-paced mobile battles to slow-growing, high-stakes encounters in PC and console games. In this post, I’ll break down […]

Given the industry’s hardships and recent dynamics on all fronts from macro to micro, I’m giving here a shot on listing down principles and DNA for building sustainable games for the future — over which I think the industry would benefit on making bets vs. repeating what has driven to us where we are today. So, buckle up! It’s going to be a bumpy and insightful ride all together when you’re reading this article. As a special mention, before jumping straight to things, it should be noted that I’m keeping these principles and points on high-level, as I’ve extensively covered each of these topics already in my blog. For diving further to these mentioned points, I highly recommend checking my posts. Principles and DNA of Sustainable Games In the rapidly evolving landscape of game development, creating long-term sustainable games requires […]

Gaming is undergoing an exciting evolution, with genre boundaries becoming increasingly blurred.Some of the most exciting innovations, in my opinion (after playing and developing, in some cases, games on these segments), are potentially emerging from the fusion of Extraction Shooters, Looter Shooters, Action RPGs, and MMORPGs. When executed right, the “hybrids” of these can offer deep, replayable experiences that cater to a variety of playstyles while enabling innovative monetization strategies.In this post, I’ll explore how blending these genres together could create unique and compelling games, including how they could work across PC, console, and mobile (with cross-play, as applicable). I’ll also delve into the monetization strategies that fit these experiences — moving beyond simple battle passes to include social-tiered milestones and group-based economy mechanisms, which I’ve written a lot about in my articles here:On top of monetization side, I’m also […]

Battle Pass systems have become a cornerstone of modern game monetization, spanning across F2P mobile games and premium titles that incorporate live-service elements. Games like Helldivers 2, Brawl Stars, and Fortnite have refined and iterated on these models, making them integral to engagement loops and long-term retention. However, with increasing saturation, what’s next for these systems? How can they evolve beyond the current engagement-monetization balance? This is where we’ll be focusing in this article, on top of which we’ll cover the current state of these systems.Engagement-Monetization Tie-in: The Battle Pass EquationAt their core, Battle Passes (including Event and Season Passes) operate on a simple yet effective model:Engagement Loop: Players are incentivized to return daily or weekly to complete tasks that progress their pass, maintaining retention.Monetization Layer: The pass monetizes via a free and premium tier system, offering rewards that justify […]