Ok, we know that this isn't Who Wants to be A Millionaire but honestly the video games industry is just as competitive as a game show sometimes. Success isn’t always just about eye-catching graphics or an exciting storyline; it’s about how players engage with and enjoy your game. One key way to ensure your game resonates with players is through playtesting. That's why we created Lysto. But even with extensive testing from your skilled in-house user research team, it can be challenging to interpret player feedback effectively or spot subtle issues that affect gameplay.

That is why there are significant advantages to bringing in an external user research service for playtesting your video game. External user researchers offer an unbiased perspective, specialized expertise, and fresh insights that can complement and enhance the efforts of your internal team. Here’s why leveraging an external user research service can elevate your playtesting—and, ultimately, your game.

Enhanced Objectivity and Fresh Perspectives

After months or years of working on a project, even the most objective in-house researchers can become too familiar with the game to see it entirely through a player’s eyes. An external research service brings a fresh, unbiased perspective.

They approach the game with the same curiosity and open-mindedness as a first-time player, helping to uncover issues that internal teams might overlook. This outside perspective can reveal unexpected player pain points and highlight areas for improvement that may otherwise remain unnoticed.

Access to Specialized Expertise and Tools

External user research services often have access to specialized tools and resources that your team may not routinely use. These services may provide advanced testing setups, sophisticated behavioral analysis software, or even unique methodologies that can uncover insights beyond the typical playtesting session. By integrating this expertise into your playtesting process, your in-house team can access a broader set of analytical techniques, ensuring that no stone is left unturned.

Scalability and Flexibility During Peak Testing Phases

When it’s time to ramp up testing—whether due to major updates, pre-release polish, or final quality checks—an external service provides scalability. Expanding your research team internally can be costly and time-consuming, while an external service can swiftly deploy additional resources. This flexibility allows your internal team to stay focused on core tasks while an external team handles the surge, ensuring that testing remains thorough and efficient, even during high-stakes phases.

Specialized Playtesting for Diverse Player Profiles

External user research teams often have established connections with diverse player bases, allowing for more comprehensive testing across a variety of demographics, skill levels, and gaming preferences. By leveraging an external service, your team can access and analyze a broader range of player perspectives, ensuring that the game is thoroughly tested for its entire target audience. This is especially valuable when exploring new markets or expanding to different platforms where player expectations and behaviors may differ.

Clear, Actionable Reporting and Collaboration

Professional external research services are experienced in delivering concise, actionable reports tailored to a development team’s needs. By combining their findings with your in-house knowledge, they can provide a well-rounded view of player experience and usability. These insights often come with prioritized recommendations, so your internal team can immediately focus on what matters most to improve gameplay. This collaborative approach allows you to transform raw data into clear, effective strategies for development.

A Great Way To Use a Surplus

Sometimes, teams find themselves in the fortunate position of being slightly under budget as the year wraps up. Instead of letting these funds go unused, this is the perfect moment to tackle those “if only we had the time or capacity to playtest wish lists. You also have a chance to explore those lingering hunches you’ve had about your game but never managed to test.

That’s the beauty of working with an external user researcher—it’s a hands-off process. Imagine it like playing fetch with a dog at the park: you toss the ball, and they sprint off, retrieve it, and bring it back. Here, you hand off the task, then focus on other priorities while the researcher returns with valuable insights.

An Investment in Innovation and Long-Term Game Quality

An external user research service can be a powerful ally in pushing innovation boundaries. They often work across multiple titles and genres, bringing fresh ideas and broad industry experience to your team. This cross-pollination of ideas can drive innovation, inspire new solutions to gameplay or usability issues, and help your team think outside the box.

To wrap things up

For an in-house user research team, partnering with an external user research service for playtesting is an investment in both the immediate and long-term quality of your game. With their objectivity, specialized tools, and comprehensive insights, an external service offers a powerful way to scale efforts, validate assumptions, and ultimately create a player experience that resonates. By collaborating with an external user research service, your team can achieve a more holistic view of your game, helping to ensure it’s a success when it reaches players' hands.